FURIOUSLY HAPPY. And scared. And back to happy again.

If you’ve been here long enough you know I’ve been working on my second book for the last three years. I’ve carried it with me every day, adding a paragraph here, deleting another there, reworking a sentence for the eleventieth time because I want it to be perfect, always feeling like a loser because Stephen King and cocaine set unrealistic expectations about how easy it should be to write a book. If you know me in real life you’ve seen me lugging around a giant manuscript and scribbling furiously in it when inspiration strikes. You may have asked me why I don’t just use a laptop and then nodded in what you hoped passed for understanding when I explained that I was afraid I’d lose everything I’ve written when the robot revolution happens and computers become self-aware and refuse to humor me anymore because I wasted their potential watching videos of baby hedgehogs in bathtubs.

When I was deciding what to write about for book two my first thought was “SPARKLY MALE VAMPIRES WHO ARE PRETTIER THAN YOU versus ZOMBIE FAINTING GOATS, IN THE BATTLE FOR BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH’S HEART”. Then Victor was like, “What are you, crazy?” and I thought, Well, sort of. And that’d probably be easier to write about since I have slightly more experience dealing with mental illness than I have dealing with goats.

And so began a terrifying and incredibly daunting task of writing a very funny book about a very terrible thing.

This book was hard. I wanted to be honest about my struggles — and that means opening up about things I’ve never really discussed before. And it was hard. But luckily, I had help. From you.

When I came out so many years ago about my depression and anxiety disorder I was afraid you’d all run away screaming. But you didn’t. Instead, thousands of you said “Me too,” and “I thought I was the only one,” and “It’s not just me?” You gave me the strength to be honest about my flaws and the support to realize that I was more than the broken parts that make up me. And you did something else you might not even realize…

In the years since I started writing about mental illness I’ve received so many letters from people who were affected by this community, but there were special ones I kept in a folder that I named “The Folder of 24.” – It was called that because it contained 24 letters from people who were actively planning their suicide, but decided to get help instead. And not because of what I said…they did it because of you. Almost every single one explained that what convinced them that depression was lying to them was the amazing response to my posts. They could look at a single person like me and think it was still a rare illness or something to be ashamed about…but when thousands of strangers shout out into the darkness that they are there too, it makes ripples. And those anonymous strangers saved lives without even knowing it. If you ever left a comment or a kind word you may have been the cause of someone’s mother or daughter or son being alive. Being thankful to be alive.

When I was on tour with my last book I’d sometimes talk about the Folder of 24 and how that folder is the best reason I’ll ever have for writing. And then something strange happened. After a reading people would lean in close and whisper “I was 25.”

There were so many 25’s.

This was what I went back to whenever writing this new book got too hard. Because I knew that to truly write about what it’s like to struggle with mental illness I’d have to go deeper and talk about things I haven’t written about, for fear that everyone would back away if I talked about self-harm, or mania, or the personality disorder that pushes me from “normal” crazy to something a bit scarier.

I wrote and deleted and rewrote passages, and I’m still afraid of how people will react. I’m in the exact same place I was seven years ago…afraid to share but unable to tell my story without laying it all out. And so I’ll do the same thing I did before. Because I don’t have any other choice but to be myself, and hopefully you’ll still be here in the same wonderful way you have been.

I hope you’ll come with me on the next step of the journey. I hope you’ll see yourself, or someone you love, in these pages and learn to love them better. I hope it shows people that laughter and joy can come from chaotic bizarreness. I hope you know how much you’ve helped me to become my own 25.

This is a humor book and I’ve been told that it’s funnier than my last. Most of the people who’ve read it don’t have mental illness. Certainly none of them have my specific diagnosis, but they still loved it because I think everyone can relate to the ridiculousness we bring on ourselves, to the fact that laughing at a dangerous, terrifying monster is the only way to make it small and easier to hide in your pocket.

I think everyone can relate to the fact that a ton of bullshit happens every single day and the only way we can battle that bullshit is choose to be furiously happy whenever we have the opportunity. That means different things to different people, but to me it’s about making clothes out of live ferrets, making the best of it when you get kidnapped by an actual funeral, and occasionally balancing your taxidermy raccoon on the back of your cats to create a Midnight Raccoon Rodeo in your kitchen when you’re having one of those weeks where you’re afraid to leave your house.

It also means celebrating the fact that I HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK. AAAAAAHHHHHH! Sorry. Just happy.

Step two was choosing a book cover, but my last book cover had a dead mouse on it and that level of sophistication is pretty hard to top. How do you get a book cover that captures the celebration of being broken in just the right way? My suggestion was to use a model who literally went from being road kill to being the star rodeo rider during my recurring bouts of insomnia.

Any you know what? I think we nailed it.

(That’s Rory, by the way. He’s in the book.)

I hope to God you love it.

Rory and I love you.

PS. Want details on when it comes out and where to order it right now? CLICK HERE.

PPS. Thank you. Again. Seriously. You made this happen. (Which I guess sort of means it’s your fault if you hate it. Just saying.)

You are so amazing Jenny! “If I could give you one thing, it would be to see you through my eyes, then you would see how amazing you really are.” I gotta go get that book, and I can finally finish your first one (I didn’t want it to be over)

Can’t wait! Don’t know if you remember who I am but you have helped me tremendously. Except “tremendously” isn’t a big enough word to describe it. Maybe I can make one up? Is the back cover going to have the picture of you laying in your empty swimming pool? Love that one…

I think you are unlocking an entirely new realm that is overdue and dearly needed for so many. There is safety and acceptance, and dammit, there is laughter. Because of you. Plus taxidermy. Thank you, you sparkling, radiant wonder, you!

You’re so beautiful and amazing Jenny Lawson! ! I’m sitting here bawling my eyes out because of all the wonder and awesomeness you bring to the world. Thank you for saying the things I’m too scared to say. You rocK and I can’t wait to read your book!! ❤

I love the book cover….and I got goosebumps reading this post. The depressionLies hashtag on twitter, which I think started because of you, has helped me more than once. So thank you. And thank you for being brave enough to share your experiences. You will never know just how many people this has helped, and saved. I can’t wait to read the book.

You’re so beautiful and amazing Jenny Lawson! ! I’m sitting here bawling my eyes out because of all the wonder and awesomeness you bring to the world. Thank you for saying the things I’m too scared to say. You rocK and I can’t wait to read your book!! ❤

We’ve got your back, Jenny. Thanks in advance of reading it for writing it. I can’t imagine how difficult and scary writing this book has been. I’m all smiles and teary eyed at the same time. Congratulations! I love the cover. Off to pre-order……

Yay! Can’t wait to read it and add it to my list of travel essentials. Book number one is on the list between “mosquito net” and “water purifier”. I see a space for Book 2 between “bourbon” and “neck pillow”.

Amen sister friend!! It is due to the openness and raw honesty of bloggers like you, Jen at Epbot, and Allie Brosh at Hyperbole and a half that I was able to recognize, deal with, and be honest about my panic attacks when they started a few years ago. Thank you thank you thank you. Can’t wait to read the new book. I am sure it is every bit as funny and wonderful as your first book. I hope I get to see you again on this book tour. Took now hubby then boyfriend to your book signing in Boston and he became a fan as well. We were honored to meet and talk to you. Furiously happy. For life. 🙂

I cried when I read this. I used to be a cutter. Was for many years. High school all the way up into my early 20’s … and I won’t lie now and say that I don’t still struggle with the impulse. If anything else, I don’t think I’ve eliminated the compulsion for self-harm as much as that it comes out in other ways. And to the VAST majority of my friends, I look well-adjusted. Isn’t that the joke?? Honestly, I think the only thing that has REALLY kept me from hurting myself in overt ways when I’m stressed (because I’d always ALWAYS rather turn my anxiety and pain inward rather than outward) is that I don’t want to set this example for my daughter. I couldn’t bear to see those beautiful arms of hers scarred like mine are. I’d become roadkill before I’d allow that to happen.

My hubby has severe depression and anxiety and you’re writing about mental illness has helped me better understand what he goes through and what I can do to help. I read your last book out-loud and we loved it. Thanks for writing another one. Pre-ordered our copy!

Congratulations!
And thank you, both because I love to luxuriate in a deep To Read list that stretches infinitely into the future, and you’ve just added to mine, AND, more importantly, because I want so badly to be a good best friend to my Since Childhood Best Girl as she struggles with mental illness, and there’s still so much that I don’t understand. Thank you for talking about the things that she doesn’t want to.

Just finished your first book and all I can say is Hahahahahahaha! It was the most fun I have had in years. Since I too feel suicidal fairly regularly and manage it by laughing at myself and everything else, I was totally on board. Can’t wait until I get your new one. I have told everyone I know to read your books. The world needs you!! Thanks!!

As a proud member of this tribe, please allow me to say how proud I am at how many emotional/physical/spiritual Thunderdomes you had to conquer in order to get to this place. I am so proud of you ! RESPECT !!!

Hooray!! I – and my library – cannot WAIT for this book to be here!
And don’t worry. We’ll all still love you after we read it. Well, except for those you kill because you KNOW there will be a few who rupture guts while laughing and won’t get to the hospital in time because: Just one more page…and they’ll die. They may not love you anymore. Their families sure won’t. But the rest of us will.

I haven’t been this excited about a book since…. Actually probably sine your last book came out. Thanks for sharing your story. It makes it easier to share mine. And sharing makes it easier to bear. You’re magnificent. Never stop being you.

Hey Jenny. Although I don’t suffer from mental illness, my partner does, as do and did many family members through the years. Thank you, for your honesty and open attitude about your struggles as it helps me understand that much more the people who I share my life with.

I’ve read many books over the years, but none have made me feel like I know its writer in such a personal more than your book. We’ve never had a conversation or texted each other or sent each other goofy Facebook stickers and yet I see this spark I you that is hard to ignore. I’m so glad that you are WILLING TO FIGHT those inner demons because I think you have so much more to offer the world with your funny, snarky, bawdy words. (I’m sorry to make this a rah-rah pep talk, I just think a few kind words can go a really long way!)

Admitting that we hurt, that we have self doubt, that we feel smaller than our demons is like admitting weakness and that’s hard to do. We’re not defeated though! We’re all just people dealing with SHIT! I went through my own phase, still have really rough moments and few people know that many nights I cried myself to sleep because certain dreams were so far out of my reach. I am truly touched by your post because while it sucks donkey balls that we’ve all been there, there’s comfort in knowing others understand. I’m amazed that so many of your readers were affected in such positive, life saving ways 🙂 That’s pretty freaking awesome!

I love this post! I love the new book cover and you can definitely count on me to get a copy!

Can’t wait to read it! (Damn it! September is so far away). I’ll have to order two, cause last time my cousin stole your book, so this time I’ll be prepared, I’ll have one to lend and one jus for me. Furiously exited!

Beautiful. Wonderful. I’m so happy for you. And for everyone in the Folder of 24. And for every 25 who ever found hope in this Oasis on the Internet. I love your story. I love what you do. And I love this community right here.

Bravo! It’s been a wonderful journey with you and I can’t wait to see what the future is like!
Thank you for making a horrible disease more bearable-the book cover is absolutely FABULOUS and I can’t wait to read it! xo

Some of the best therapy has come from shared experience and the Internet is the greatest way to connect. Thanks for sharing the crazy and tiring ride that is mental disorders. And congratulations on finishing the new book. Love the cover.

Three years have passed since ‘Let’s pretend’,.. My gutts are churning even more than they have done at the hope if another literacy delight since then!
I have GAD,suffered for years, my daughter has just been diagnosed (after years if Bi-polar meds) with BPD after any of struggles ‘Furiously happy’ is my light at the end of a three year tunnel!… I can’t freekin wait!!!
Congratulations Jenny!!!!! Xxx

Already pre-ordered. But, when you get a chance, could you please, please, please write that first novel about the goats and vampires and Benedict Cumberbatch because I will read the shit out of that one too.

Thank you , thank you, thank you. Your blog and your book are my go-to life preservers when I want to curl up into a ball in the corner. You make me laugh instead of cry, and that’s a wonderful gift. You are wonderful.

I’ve only recently found your blog and Twitter, so I had no idea this was a topic of your community. Anytime I discover that an author I enjoy is going to write honestly about something that has affected me, I get excited. So I immediately pre-ordered (something I don’t often do, especially so far ahead of release date). The cover nailed it, and I can’t wait to read!

I’m so excited! I can’t wait! Congratulations on having the courage to put it all down, then put it out there. I’m not a 25, but I know they’re out there, and love that what you do keeps so many 25s still with us today. Thank you.

You’ve helped me to be a better friend to my best friend in her darker times, how to not take it personally and how to be there for her. You’ve helped me through my own small ups and downs that felt monumental while I was in them. Thank you for sharing and being brave. I can’t wait to read your new book. The cover is hilarious and perfect!

I just preordered on Amazon. I loved your first book and can’t wait for your second one. I really hope you do a book tour and come to Arizona again (Maybe Chandler this time, instead of Tempe…and not during monsoon season) Although I messed up last year and almost wasn’t here today, I too am a 25. Imagine that, I would have missed out on your second book.

Congratulations!! Seriously, thank you so much for all you do. I’ve struggled with severe anxiety and depression for years. I could never really tell anyone about it because I literally didn’t have the words to express what I was going though. Then I found your blog and then your book. I started using your words to express my struggles, and through that, I was able to find my own words. I got help, and I’m getting better. I feel so much less isolated and alone now. Thank you!

congratulations.
congratulations for finishing the book…congratulations for powering through the darkness…congratulations for realizing that depression lies…congratulations for everything.
i am wildly happy for you. can’t wait to read it!

Just pre-ordered a hardback AND a kindle copy. Because for your last book I realized after I had the hard copy that I needed to have it with me at all times and bought in on kindle. And I JUST finished re-reading it like 5 days ago. And since it made me laugh out loud AGAIN, I think I waited the perfect amount of time between readings. And THANK YOU.

I kept my husband up at night because I was reading in bed and laughing so hard at what he called “The Crazy Lady Dead Mouse Book,” and I’m super excited to (a) read the new one and (b) see what in the world he’s going to call it. Thanks for sharing your gift with the world.

Thank you. There aren’t words to tell you how grateful I am that all of you exist. You made me laugh and cry but in just the right way. I never would have imagined that one day I’d actually be glad to be a bit broken. It’s worth it to be part of this strange tribe of wonderful misfits.

Oh maaaaan it’s so long until September! Your first book is my go-to for when I need to read something to distract me from the horrors of the world and can’t get my brain to settle down for anything else. I re-read it sitting in the hospital for 8 hours waiting to have a needle stuck in my eye, and I re-read it when I was unemployed. I have mashed the pre-order button so hard. Cannot wait. Congrats!

I never preorder books. I preordered yours, because duh the last one made me laugh out loud which books never do. 🙂 Thanks for being you, being honest, and showing us how to laugh in the face of, well, everything.

Congratulations, Jenny!! You are wonderful and amazing, and I’ve adored reading your blog for the last several years. My father unfortunately was not part of the 24, but reading your thoughts and words has helped me heal and maybe partially kind of understand his pain and struggle and for that I am eternally grateful. Now please excuse me as I go pre-order your book! xoxo

And probably will order more copies. And will hope with all of my being that you come to chicago on a book tour so I can get another copy signed. And so I can say thank you for letting us be #25 right along with you.

Congrats, you’re my first…I’ve never pre-ordered a book until just a few minutes ago, when I ordered yours. Please know that I take great joy in telling my husband things about you that start with “you know that woman in Texas with the giant chicken?”. He just nods his head…smile.

I’m having a little bit of a heartattack! I am sooo furiously happy about the coming of this book. I feel like one day I’ll be sad and I’ll get home and my book will be there and I will have sort of forgotten I ordered it and it will just be there. Right when I need it. So thanks, in advance.

Wow, I was so happy to see the news of the finished book, and then you made me cry with the Folder of 24, and then the cover featuring Rory made me laugh. This post is one hell of an emotional roller-coaster.

Bravo! I am really looking forward to this book. And if it makes any difference (and if you happen to be reading this), I’ll continue to read you no matter what. Thank you for having the courage to share. Much love to you, Jenny.

Congratulations on finishing the book! I enjoy your blog and, although I don’t struggle with mental illness myself, you help me understand (and manage to do it with humor and compassion) . Thank you!
I’ll just add: you are all that and a bag of chips 🙂

I think i love you a little bit.
Not just for being the savour to so many 25’s, but for doing it by being you – every part of you. The happy, the sad, the taxidermy mad. It was you that created this community of amazing people, and whilst I do not have depression – I know exactly where i’d come if i did.

But this better not be an April Fools or I will seriously reconsider my feelings for you.
That cover is PERFECT. x

Just pre-ordered! Cannot wait. And thank you for everything you’ve done. This may sound negative but it isn’t- You have no idea how large the impact you have had is. I know you see what is reflected back at you but there is a ton more out here that we take in quietly and reflect back in our own lives too. You have loudly impacted a lot of people including the folder of 24, and you have quietly impacted a lot more as well. With your honesty, your support, and your love you share with us- you are a force of nature.

I am home in bed, anxiously awaiting my afternoon psychiatry appointment. I’m recovering from (another) failed suicide attempt (thank gods it failed) after (another) episode of my bipolar brain telling me I’m not bipolar and don’t need my meds. It’s so difficult to explain to people how much my brain hates me and how to live inside a head that is so Jeckyl and Hyde. I’ve found my best armour to be honesty and my favorite weapon is sarcasm. Thank you for making art out of the roadkill and this gloriously hideous road.

(I’m so glad you’re still here. It sucks to live with a sickness that tries to murder you. But you’re still alive. You’re a survivor. Don’t listen to the lies depression tells you and I’ll promise to try to do the same. ~ Jenny)

Wish I was in this community when I tried, and failed, to die 8 times. Today I AM furiously happy! Still battling with mental illness, but not even close to wanting to die. I truly think we have the upper hand at humor. It’s what saves us everyday. You’ve saved many a 25 and will continue to do so. Thanks for sharing you. You f’ing rock!

I’m “Furiously Happy” to get to read this book. I once PM’d (is that the right way to abbreviate “private messaged”? And I’m pretty sure that just negated the need for an abbreviation) you on facebook about how to explain to my mom that I can’t always just choose to be in a good mood and/or roll with the punches, that depression isn’t something I choose. You didn’t respond, but that’s TOTALLY OK! Because just knowing that I could say those things to someone who gets it made the difference. Thanks for being you Jenny Lawson, mental illness baggage and all!

(True story: I don’t know how to respond on Facebook. If I could disable Facebook emails I would. I look at them but when I try to respond they disappear. Even when I send Facebook responses I add a thing saying to email me because Facebook mail hates me. 🙂 ~ Jenny)

So excited about your new book. I read your first one last month and I felt so relieved that someone else had similar struggles to me. I am looking forward to reading it and loving it as much if not more than your first one.

I will absolutely pre-order. Can’t wait to be seen on an airplane with a book with a manic raccoon on the cover.

And if you tour again, I’ll be there. I still look fondly on the photo with you in San Rafael where you are blinking because you are blinded by my cleavage. Or the pink and green ensemble I was wearing. Hard to know.

Laurie | April 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
Hey Jenny. Although I don’t suffer from mental illness, my partner does, as do and did many family members through the years. Thank you, for your honesty and open attitude about your struggles as it helps me understand that much more the people who I share my life with.

pre-ordering now, but don’t know if you know about Amazon Smile? It’s smile.amazon.com, and you can pick a charity to donate .5% of every purchase to. It’s the only Amazon I use! I thought you might want to add a link to that page for your bazillion readers. I have a local cancer charity (Heroes for Children) locked into my account for all of my purchases. Anyway…I can’t wait to read the new book!

(I use smile for my own orders but I use my affiliate code for anything here because at the end of the year I use that money to fund our community fundraising for Project Night Night for homeless children and to help readers who are struggling to by presents for their kids during the holidays. We’ve been doing it for about 5 years and our community has given over a quarter million dollars to help children. It’s called The James Garfield Christmas Miracle and it’s bad-ass. ~ Jenny)

HOLD UP.
Waitaminnit.
This really is the cover announcement, yes?
Not an April Fool’s Day joke?
Because I just uploaded the image to the book on Goodreads.
Seriously, if this is an April Fool’s Day joke, it’s not funny and you’d better get on the phone with your publisher to tell them that this is now officially the cover, ha ha, joke’s on them, and all.
Because this really does need to be the cover.
No, for real. It has to be. It’s perfect. And delightful.

Can’t wait to dive in. A friend gave me your book last year after a suicide attempt and I recommend it everyone-easy to do since I am a librarian. I’m preorderiing a copy for the library and a personal copy for me. Thank you, Jenny for letting me and everyone else know that DEPRESSION LIES.

I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am to have stumbled onto you and your tribe. It means so much to know that I’m not alone, that we are not alone. Thank you, Jenny, for making this magic happen.

How can we score a signed copy? 🙂
This news makes me so very very furiously happy. hug

(Still working out the details but there will be a tour and I’m working on a plan to try to get signatures to all of you pre-ordering now too. No promises because it’s still in the works, but I’ll keep you posted. ~ Jenny)

Looking forward to the second book. I gifted your first book to a dear friend several years ago. We truly bonded over that book…just laughing until we could not breathe. She has passed in the last year and I have the BEST memories of her sharing your book with me.I am grateful and sad for you struggles. Continue to be strong and Thank You for sharing your life with us. You have given me a gift …and Thank You.

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!!! I adore your first book and often go back and read sections when I need a lift. Mental illness (of every variety) is a bastard. Depression is my personal brain-f*cker-upper, and I wish there had been someone like you around when I went through my own battle with being number 25. There are not many people who could write about depression in a meaningful way and also make it funny, but I completely believe that you’ve done it. Pre-ordered and anxiously (in a good way!) awaiting my copy. 😀

I read your blog and so often think, “I love you” but I don’t want to post that because I think you’ll think I’m weird and stalker-y and pathetic, but I really do love you for letting me know that I’m ok. So thank you. I love you.

I can’t remember last time I pre ordered a book so far in advance. But I just did. I think the last time was when I pre ordered the final Harry Potter book. So basically, you are the J K Rowling for us (I don’t know you would call us), crazy, happy, sometimes drunk collective?

HOORAY! Yay and can’t wait. I can’t tell you how great it is that I found this blog – I was in the depth of my worst depression ever and I still re-read certain things when it threatens to sneak up again. Not only your sharing, but knowing there are others out there with the same feelings…it means the world to me. Thank you Jenny and thank you tribe. Hugs for all!

I am so incredibly happy to know that you were able to finish it and that I will be able to get a copy of it!!! I love you Jenny, and all that you stand for. Thank you for being so brave for all of us. XOXOXOXO

OMG. You dear, dear woman. And “broken in just the right way” sums things up so well. Thank you for that. I totally judge a book by a cover. And this one? This one right here? Gonna be the jewel of my collection. So hard was I laughing that the kid thought I was watching some cute cat video without her. Pre-ordering that baby right now.

This post made me cry more than anything you have written thus far. I know why, but I cannot say it, and that’s okay. Just putting this little bit out here is something. This post also makes me FURIOUSLY HAPPY for you and I can’t wait to read it. Well done, Jenny Lawson. You are amazing!

Congrats! I don’t know about making clothes out of live ferrets, though. And I understand your fear of self-aware computers deleting your stuff. Robots are notorious for having absolutely NO sense of humor. Partly because they don’t get the appeal of furry things like cats, ferrets, weasels, three-toed sloths, etc. etc.

Is it terrible to say that I am really looking forward to reading your book? I guess what I mean is that it feels like I am saying, “Hey, I am so sorry that you have been dealt the hand of mental illness, and that really sucks, ’cause boy life would be easier without those particular set of cards, but I look forward to reading about your experiences, as I know it will encourage and help me on my own crazy journey.” Also, add me to the list of the “Club of 25s” that has given me motivation and inspiration that I was not alone, even in my darkest hours, from posts and comments on this blog and on Hyperbole and a Half, Epbot, Boggle the Owl (that illustration has been SO helpful! “Just give me a stick!” I want it on a shirt! Also the blog Dooce (WHY has no one else told me about how normal it is to feel extra “off” in the spring and the fall? Her twice yearly reminders are sanity savers and I forward them to my hubby to remind him to show me some extra grace.) Even though I am still in the process of getting diagnosed, I am no longer scared of a label or title for my particular sort of crazy, which is a huge step from where I was a year ago. And it has been awesome to be able to post several of your blog posts that have suicide prevention hotline numbers on Facebook. My brother committed suicide a little over two years ago, and it’s given me a new perspective on my own battle with depression, and I told my parents I am no longer going to hide our family’s history of mental illness and share my own struggles publicly as well, as hearing other people’s story keep me walking each day, and hopefully it will speak to someone else and give them hope to hang on for one more day.

So while I know the process is hard and there are still hard days, thank you for being open and honest with your journey and creating a safe place for all of us to come and hang out and encourage each other when it seems like we can’t take another step!

Omg. Reading your post just gave me shivers. It is amazing how frankly you talk about your own struggles, it helps immensely to know we are not alone. And we are stronger than we think.
And kudos and huzzah! Can’t wait to read your new book. The first one had me drooling with laughter, such a pretty picture, I know, I’m dainty as hell!

you have helped me through so many days, thank you. just pre-ordered my cop, which i am going to read on the plane when i take my vacation in november…if i can resist that long! your “let’s pretend this never happened” was the best anti-anxiety med during a bumpy flight (hurricane!) on a previous trip. oddly enough other passengers couldn’t understand what i was laughing about!

How very perfect. Can’t wait for the new book and I love the cover and title – Rory is certainly dancing on that fine line between jazz hands and time to up the meds ;D Congrats, and for the millionth time, thank you. xx

I am furiously excited and furiously clicking on the link to advance purchase my copy. I like your comment that you are glad to be a little bit broken. You have absolutely found your purpose in life and I hope you can remember even in your darkest days all the good that has come from this community that has developed around you. We are helping each other and it’s a beautiful thing.

all I can say is YAY! I know I am another one of those “Me Too” people, and am so glad for you, and the rest of your followers who helped make the 24 (and all the 25’s) into victories over this monstrous liar in our lives. Now I have to look forward to another wonderful book, and several new chapters in the ongoing saga of “holy shit that’s funny” “fuck that’s crazy” and “I can’t help you, but I will cry with you” that is your blog, your story, and your life.

YAY!!!! Congratulations!!!! I have no idea how you do it, but man it’s a huge accomplishment. Triumph!!

You’re totally right – all large birds are suspect. I once had a white goose named Jonathan who attacked anyone who crossed the yard to our barn. A defining moment in my life was when I stood up to him and screamed at him wielding a large stick and standing my ground – I wanted to see the barn kittens GOSHDARNIT.
Let’s pretend that’s a metaphor.

Thank you! I received an Amazon gift card for my birthday. I’ve been saving it for something that would give me joy. I just used to pre-order your book! Hooray!
I am another person who can tell you that you, specifically, as well as Wil Wheaton and Allie Brosh, have helped me feel better about being the particular kind of broken that I am. And, seriously, how lucky am I that I can take some medicine that usually makes me pretty much OK? Also, your blog, along with the others that I mentioned, have helped me to talk to my daughters about mental illness in our family. I don’t ever want it to blindside them like it did me. My parents were sure I was just sort of moody and unreasonable. I couldn’t deny it. But then, when I did get treatment, I learned about this family history of depression and even suicide. Come on! That would’ve been great to know! Anyway, they did their best, and I’m doing my best no with my girls to let them know that some of us are just hardwired differently. It’s difficult and sometimes even scary, but it’s nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
Ugh, so many words to say that I love what you’re doing and I cannot wait to read the book. I am proud of you, and we don’t even know each other!

I am so unbelievably excited about this book. For a long time, I felt alone in my world of depression, anxiety, adhd, ptsd, and generalized little inner kid trauma, and then I happened across you. Sometimes the right people show up, at the right time in life and tell you something so true that it slaps you in the ear, for me, it was your last book. I’m more than a little odd and your book helped me to embrace the weird and give a giant middle finger wearing a sombrero to anyone who said that being me wasn’t okay. You have been there on days where you’re not completely feeling it and even then you remind yourself, and others, that depression lies. I guess, you’re my spirit animal. 🙂 Congratulations on finishing your book! I’m only at the start of mine, but it’s always fun to hear someone has actually finished one! 🙂

Love you, love Victor, love Hailey- so glad you accomplished this wonderful goal! Re-reading book #1 has kept me sane during a really horrible week of terrible badness. I look forward to my next Bloggess book installment! Thank you SO much!

Thank you for the constant reminder that even people who are afraid of everything and sometimes can’t leave the house for reasons that can’t be properly explained to others, can be delightful and valuable. It can be hard to remember sometimes. You’re a role model of awsomesauce and are just the very best of everything. Can you please make FURIOUSLY HAPPY T-shirts?

Well…I don’t suppose I’ll get to read this book laying on the ground waiting for a helicopter in Afghanistan while laughing out loud (and people wondering why the Chaplain is laughing in a war zone), but I immensely look forward to this book. I’m sure I’ll just be somewhere else where people can wonder why the Chaplain is laughing and me having the immense privilege to tell them. Thank you so much for being you and helping me be me.

Well…I don’t suppose I’ll get to read this book laying on the ground waiting for a helicopter in Afghanistan while laughing out loud (and people wondering why the Chaplain is laughing in a war zone), but I immensely look forward to this book. I’m sure I’ll just be somewhere else where people can wonder why the Chaplain is laughing and me having the immense privilege to tell them. Thank you so much for being you and helping me be me.

Thanks for all you do (besides being wildly entertaining). Your folder of 24 is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful. May you continue to touch the lives of those who struggle in your wonderful, wacky, and positive way.

Your humility reminds me that good things happen to wonderful people. I think you should hashtag I am 25. It’s powerful.

And I wanted you to know, although I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve never suffered from depression to any significant degree, you’ve helped me continue being in the life a family member who does, and allowed me to continue having a relationship with him, because I’ve gained enough insight from you and this “pack” to keep my own sanity and support him in a loving and empathic way. For that, I will always be grateful.

For funny, I don’t see how you’re going to top the “arm stuck in a cow’s vagina” story, but I’m eager to find out how you do it. I’m also eager to read the book because I have a mental illness too, I blog about it (bipolarjan.wordpress.com), and I want to know more about how you maintain the balance.

WOOT! I can tell Rory is saying it with me. Congratulations on finishing your book. I’m sure it will be as wonderful if not more wonderful than your first book. I couldn’t speed fast enough to the pre-order and mentally telling your book to get here faster because I want it, but I’ll pretend to be patient just because you’re worth the wait. So excited for you and for me because new book from Jenny Lawson. All sorts of AWESOME!

I absolutely adored your first book (which reminds me, I HAVE to get it back from my mom) and have been looking forward to the second. Even more so now. I have a granddaughter who self-harms and I am hopeful that we are finally out of the woods, but with her wacko parents, who knows? We have offered to have her come live with us, which she did for a while, but got to missing her parents so she went home – and almost immediately regretted it. She’s still home but knows that she can come here anytime, for a day, a week or until she’s old enough to be on her own. I think knowing she has an escape has helped her deal with things. And we talk – a lot. I want to read your book and I want to get a copy for her as well, perhaps for Christmas or maybe just-because one day when she needs it. Laughter really IS the best medicine sometimes and my granddaughter needs all the laughter she can get. Thank you, Sweetie, for giving us some of your pain and helping us learn to laugh about yours and our own.

I am SO happy for this book to come out. Seriously. Furiously. I suffer from depression and BPD and one of my best friends suffers from depression and anxiety. We read your first book together and laughed/cried our way through it. There were so many, “That’s me!” moments for the both of us. You’re the reason that I had the courage to accept the truths about my struggles and finally get help for my BPD, which I’d been in denial about for years. Thank you thank you thank you. You’re f*cking awesome. Keep being honest and vulnerable and funny. You make the journey easier for many of us 🙂

I’m so excited for this. My daughter is newly diagnosed with both depression and anxiety and, even though I’ve struggled with depression at times, I feel helpless and confused about how to help her. I’ve often thought of writing you to ask for one piece of advice to help a 14-year-old girl who is struggling, but I’m not a person who comments or writes to people on the internet (well, not usually). I can’t wait to read it and then pass it along to her. Every story I tell her that helps her feel less alone seems to help chip away at the isolation she is feeling right now. Thank you for sharing with us!

This makes April Fools Day SO less annoying…and worth it that I got up this morning. Congrats and many thanks. Ordering a hard copy because you had an excellent point about the robot rebellion. And it makes it easier to give a copy to my therapist.

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK!!!!!! Yay you Jenny! I knew you were ‘my people’ since the first page of your first book. Thank you for sharing that story of the 25. It made me get all choked up. I react differently than others I know. I laughed hysterically at my grandmother’s funeral whom I loved dearly. I know she would have been cracking up with me had she been alive. Laughing so hard you cry actually worked in my favor since everyone thought I was crying very very hard. Whether I laugh or cry at your new book, I know I will LOVE it.

You’re so brave! And you work so hard! The two things about myself I feel the worst about.

My brother and I are struggling tremendously right now with the eminent demise of our business where we help people who are sick and dying do so more comfortably and with as much love and dignity as we can give them. So, if all of y’all out there would send some prayers, happy thoughts, do a rain dance (or the hokey pokey), light a candle… SOMETHING, we would be most grateful. Not only that, my brother’s favorite cat was diagnosed with cancer and isn’t expected to make it a month. He’s just BROKEN… AGAIN. Sigh. Life is hard. But the daffodils and forsythia are blooming here, and the sky is that clear, springtime BLUE. Thank you.

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 YAY! And GOOD FOR YOU! I’ve dealt with depression, anxiety and an eating disorder for the last 12 years, and keep feeling like all the recovery stories I read are, surprisingly, more shaming/apologetic then joyous, ridiculous, funny. We NEED laughter, so badly – it’s the most freeing thing I’ve ever encountered in the face of mental illness. So excited to hear you’ve created another gem for the world to cherish. Keep rockin’ the awesome!

Ordered mine! Congratulations on the new book. I promise I’ll still love you in the morning. Unless that racoon does something utterly disgusting, and then I’ll just hang around out of morbid curiosity!

I’ve been following you for a while now and have been waiting for this news!! I just pre-ordered it and I’m counting the days until it’s released!! It’ll be like an early Christmas!! Thank you – for everything!!!

You are so brave. Not only in writing your books but touring to promote them. I was in the Seattle Elliot Bay Books (which is strangely no longer on the bay) when you read to me and the several hundred people who had crowded in to see you. I wanted to run just being in the audience. But you didn’t run, you read to us and talked with us and then sat there for all gazillion of us to file past your table. You’re fabulous and we love you!

I needed this news today. You have helped me so many times in dealing with my own depression and issues. Sadly we lost a family member to suicide 2 days ago. Reading your words and those of people her remind me to not lose hope and depression lies. Thank you for being you and staying with us

Just pre-ordered, and look forward to September, which is kind of a boring month usually.

While I don’t struggle with anxiety or depression, my mother does. I found your blog right around the time she went off the deep end, and I just couldn’t understand what was happening. I was so frustrated with her, but then I found you. Thank you for having the courage to share the dark secrets. Your courage helped me to understand what my mother was dealing with and to have patience when she wasn’t acting like herself. Thank you.

Brilliant news!
Thank you so much for being willing to slog through your own issues and finding the humour in them in order to share it with the rest of us and make us feel better and not alone in this.hugs

i am “another 25″… Until I found this tribe, I did not know “depression lies”. I believed every word it said… I was ugly, worthless, stupid, etc. and then I found this blog and found an amazing therapist. So many, many Thanks!.

When I saw Rory on the cover, I knew this was not an April Fool’s joke. To be a joke, your’s would have to have some calm, sad, pastel, non-taxidermied figure on the front.
I think the “I AM 25” club is going to be bigger than the your church membership.
And yeah, I am a member.
Thanks tribe.

I opened up and wrote about depression for the first time in January of this year. Then, beginning of March, I was feeling better and I WAS SO EXCITED to feel better and I crossed out the depression part in the “about me” in my blog. Now, depression has creeped back in and BECAUSE of you, I had the courage to write about it right away again. I didn’t want to deal with it on my own. This post brought tears to my eyes and I CANNOT wait to read your 2nd book.

Thank you so much for your writing, it comes through at the best and worst of times.
As an aside, I am wondering how much of Viktor is also in this book? And by that I mean do you write about your relationship? Let’s explain: I suffer from multiple mental bs disorders, and recently added autistic to the list. I am worried I will never find someone who would willingly take on “partner/caretaker” title and am extremely curious about that relationship dynamic.
Sorry if that’s too intimate a question.
(He’s in there and we do talk about that strange, wonderful and terrible dynamic. I think it gave us both a better idea of what they other was going through. Keep looking. Good people are out there and they’re waiting for you – flaws and all. ~ Jenny)

Congrats Jenny!!!! You are so brave to try and make light of something so serious.When I did it, the biggest lesson I learned was DON’T READ YOUR AMAZON REVIEWS. So don’t. Only read the reviews here, of the people who love you. Because they’ll all be good reviews. Someone who doesn’t know you (or “know” you) won’t get it and that’s not your fault so you do whatcha gotta do and YOU know you’re doing it right Because of that folder. *Thumbs-up emojis!!!!

as long as you are here…I am here. can’t wait for the book, Jenny Lawson’s voice rolling around my head..thats laughter “crack”, my drug of choice. an by the way i would so read a book on “ZOMBIE FAINTING GOATS, IN THE BATTLE FOR BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH’S HEART”.

This made me totally laugh out loud for so many reasons. Can’t wait to read this one. Pre-ordered for sure. Also, my name is Rory and I write about being broken on terminallyintelligent.wordpress.com I think I need to adopt a rodeo raccoon now.

I don’t comment often (ever?) because you have SO many comments that I know you can’t read them all. But this reminds me that SOMEONE is reading them. I’m so excited for this book. You (and your posse of fantastic followers) are incredible & inspiring. I’ve been a 25 and, though I’m not right now, I could be again because that’s the nature of the beast. I can’t tell you how many times repeating “depression lies” has helped me. I want to hug everyone right now (and I really, really dislike touching people). Rock on Jenny!
(I’m reading them. And I love them all. I’m so glad you’re here. ~ Jenny)

Congratulations Jenny! I’ve ordered!
Here is an article I think you might understand. http://www.bluntmoms.com/plan/
I left it anonymous because my family is not ready to talk. It is nice to be part of the group and feel understood. I won’t say 25 because I imagine I am in the hundreds. I have never done the ‘anon’ before and wish I could be as brave as you. Some day.

Funny book, laughed at last one, silly cover make me laugh, already preordered, etc. Now that that’s out of the way…

Amazon had a somewhat little known service called “Amazon smile” that donates to charity. You just go to smile.amazon.com and sign up. It uses your existing amazon account and all the existing amazon products. Nothing changes but the web address. Then amazon donates a small portion of your purchases to the charity of your choice. They don’t add to the price or anything. It literally costs you the same as you were spending before, but some charity gets a couple of percent of the money amazon would have kept.

Please tell people about this so they can sign up and choose a charity to help out. Maybe you could even recommend a few that are listed. There has to be a charity for depressed ferrets that are having a difficult time relating to their hedgehog friends or something that could use a little money.

Oh girl, I love all of this, and you, and I am furiously happy that it’s done and I can read it!

I love what you’ve done by putting your real self out there in ways that many of us cough me cough will never be able to do, which leaves me with only random crap to write about and only occasional glimpses of anything that’s really in my head.

I don’t have any kind of mental illness, and I can not even imagine what it feels like to want to die, but I am so very glad that so many people have got help. Continue getting help. And that they know they are not alone.

And that you are here to make us laugh. You are amazing. I had so many things in my head reading your post and reading the comments, and now of course they’re all gone.

I will be pre-ordering your new book, for sure!!!! Thanks for the link. And Rory is amazing! And glitter sucks. Sort of. It’s awesome and shiny and pretty but good gods, don’t make me deal with it in real life!!

Love the cover and I’m sure I’ll love the book as I did the first book. Include me in your 25 folder, I’ve been hiding since I was 19. Runs in my family and I fight the good fight even though sometimes it just seems to be an easy solution. Go Jenny, I read your blog for my upper addiction.

Thank you Jenny. For your honesty and for putting it out there in a way that helps me accept that my brokenness is in just the right way for me. And for making me laugh out loud and find joy when I forget it’s still in me.

Thank you for being so brave, and for giving voice to the dark bullshit that so many of us carry. It makes the bullshit less heavy when it gets shared. Your blog and followers have helped me enormously with this giant bag of darkness that I slog around.

And thank you for being hysterically funny in your disorders and strangeness, and for introducing us to the luxuries of tying the word “motherfucker” to taxidermy and metal chickens, and for letting us in on the glorious Nancy Kappas, may she ever say inappropriate things in heaven, and her Judy Garland trail mix, and poor, sweet, helpless Victor, and your completely badass daughter.

Just pre-ordered now. I am a long-time reader who has been blessed and inspired by your writing both during dark times of my own and by the opportunity to be a very small part of helping others with the James Garfield Christmas Miracle every year. Thanks so much for everything that you do.

AHHHHHH!!!!! It’s done!!! I am going to vomit for you! In a good way I promise. Except that emetophobia is my biggest fear so I will probably cry if anyone sees me do it. Or even if they don’t. But I don’t care! Ok, really I do because anxiety is a fucker. But who cares! Because in September I can read your book and not feel so alone about crying after I vomit in front of people after I found out that you finished your book. (Or that time it happened at the airport in the security line and I sat down on the floor and a nice woman offered me a baby wipe and to take me through security.) I am seriously so furiously happy right now! And this in the same week my sister got engaged. Seriously, Jenny, you two really know how to make a girl’s week.

(P.S. two years ago today was the second time I met you! And I got to meet Copernicus! That probably means something… We’re soul mates? Or best friends? Or two of an amazing clan of brilliantly and perfectly imperfect people, right?!?)

Thank you Jenny! I loved your first book. I laughed out loud, I cried and loved reading it. You are a shining example of what it means to be a strong, loving, honest, truthful, funny, compassionate, intelligent, courageous, authentic woman and I aspire to be like you. Your new book is coming out at the perfect time. I completed treatment for breast cancer in August 2014 (I’m doing great!) and my docs told me to expect recovery from treatment to take a year. So next September when I’ve forgotten I preordered, my kids are back in school, my energy and endurance has improved and I am out there living life and returning to my new “normal” (what an ineffective word as I don’t think “normal” really exists), I will open up my Kindle to glitter, confetti, Rory and The Bloggess – the perfect recovery gift from me to me. I plan to curl up in comfy clothes, with my favorite tea and chocolate of course. I will probably be glued to your book when the kids get home and simply nod at all questions and let them run wild and order pizza delivery for dinner so I can keep reading, stay up half the night and thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. I can’t wait! Thank you!

So now that you are all fancy-pants famous and get to ‘join the ranks of Tina Fey and David Sedaris’, can we still be friends? I’m suddenly intimated by you, but it’s no fun to drink wine slushes alone.

I was diagnosed as bipolar when I was 18. Suddenly, all the years of feeling “not normal” and like I had too much going on in my heart and head all made sense. Adolescence is hard enough — and I did it with an undiagnosed serious mental illness.

I know you’ve heard 9,457 stories from people who have been there, who appreciate you, and who share your heartaches and joys of living with and thriving despite mental illness. But, I’m going to say “thank you” anyways. Thank you, for bottling the humor and joy found amongst the day-to-day life we live on the roller coaster that is mental illness. I’m proud of you.

Newb here but man, did you hit me in the feels talking about depression and anxiety. I just wrote a post about how I feel like I passed this horrible hung on to my son, and the outpouring of support from friends and family was awesome. I can’t wait to read your book!

Congrats and yay! It must be amazing and awesome to have so many people supporting and cheering you and worrying for you when there is radio silence. To know that you have left an indelible mark on this world and the people in it, saving lives with words–that’s something we can all aspire to. Keep on being a great human!

Reading this post (like so many others) made me teary. Run screaming from you? We all run screaming toward you. We are all different and our fears and anxieties seem like no one else’s, but at the same time we are all hands reaching out in the dark for reassurance. And finding it. We are a tribe.

Jenny!!! I’m so FREAKING EXCITED to read book #2!! Thank you for plugging along, for never giving up even when things get hard, so hard that you don’t want to move, let alone write a book for all of us!! I came out to your book signing in Seattle for “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened”. When you spoke of your anxiety and how much medication you were on just to come out and speak to us, it was so refreshing. Then you said if we were feeling anxious not to worry because the person next to us probably had some Xanax it was hilarious because OF COURSE I HAD XANAX!! WHO GOES ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT?!?! You were so great, signed books, took pics…. even though I now know you were really struggling and ready to be done. So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for pushing through. I can’t wait to see you again for this book tour!! BTW, I need a Victor, do you have a spare you can send my way?!?! ((Hugs)) ~ Shae

I am so excited to read. I have had my own painful struggle with depression and anxiety my whole life and have suffered in silence through most of it. It is thanks to you and others like you who are brave enough to share that make it possible to believe that I am, we are not alone, and that being “broken” can be a good thing. Thank you Jenny from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of your tribe and for teaching me to lean into the weird.

I’m so excited for this. I will never run screaming from you either. Maybe slowly back away on occasion, but you might do the same to me at times. If we ever met, that is. Would have to do that first. =)

I wish I knew you in real life so I could give you a hug, or high five, or jazz hands cause I adore you. You make me proud. We need more people in the world like you – someone who is apologetically real, funny, and who speaks her mind even when it’s tough. I wish I was a better writer to really describe how I feel about this post and you but this will have to do. I will always read your stuff no matter what you say (unless it’s to kill puppies cause then you are on your own) xoxo

I just had a horrible horrible 24 hours… I fell and hurt my elbow very badly, I got in a fight with someone I have to see frequently, I picked up foster kittens (which SHOULD be nice) – but I was told they were healthy and that was so so very not true – and also they are infested with fleas so now I am glad treating ALL my animals and feel like I am covered in fleas…. Anyway, it has been pretty shit.

I just told my friend I was going to try for a better 24 hours, then went to your site and saw this… This is the best news I have heard in ages!!!! I am super psyched!!!!

I can’t wait to read it, and thank you for all you do making those of us with anxiety and depression feel a little less alone.

Just pre-ordered the new book and a copy of Lets Pretend This Never Happened (which I have on Kindle but really need in print too). I am a member of the tribe too and relate so much to what you say and the commenters(?) say. Have had depression all my life and hate to be out at social occasions. My daughter is getting married the end of next month and I am seeing a hypnotist before so I can get thru the wedding and reception (as well as my ex-husband being there). We are all fucked up in some manner or other.

I read somewhere that Stephen King doesn’t remember writing Cujo and several other books of that time because of all of the alcohol and cocaine. Cujo. One of his best books, in my opinion. Maybe because the books from that era are the books I read as a teenager. No, I don’t have a point, just wanted to share.

I cannot wait to read the physical copy of this book on the bus on the way to work. I got looks reading the last one because I couldn’t contain my laughter to acceptable public transport levels. This one has the dual benefit of at least as much humor and an AMAZING cover. Hello, double-bus seat all to myself 🙂

Mazel tov! I was just thinking how in the past there were “self-help” which we written by an academic with some anonymous scenarios: “Susie Q. had an insatiable craving for Twinkies which destroyed her teeth, her figure and her marriage. Here are 5 ways to increase your self-discipline and keep Hostess Cakes out of your cupboard.” They stank. I see your book (and Amanda Palmer’s) as a new generation of helping books that use openness and humor to slay those dragons. Thank you. Hope to see you in Boston.

Thank you for writing this book and sharing yourself with us. This may sound completely ridiculous, but I often feel like an outsider, but an outsider who has no reason to complain. So many people I know struggle with depression, yet I do not. Sure, I have bad days, and recently bad months and half-years, but I know from listening to my friends that I don’t feel depressed, not really. And that’s great, but I feel like there’s some integral part of them that I can’t share, some deeper understanding that I will never experience. So, thank you for sharing yourself so that I may understand the people I love a little bit better.

I guess this means I need to get a move on reading your first books (I know, I know- I didn’t discover you until I liberated a bunch of taxidermy animals from a nature center dumpster, announced I was going to put them all in stylish hats, and had a friend direct me your way). I am so excited to read “Furiously Happy,” both because the cover is magical, and because I am excited to relate to what is within. Congrats on finishing!

Bless you! because now I have a gift for all those hard to shop for people on my list for Christmas 2015. I’m sure it’s divine and I cannot wait to read it!….is there going to be a book tour? because I have to get my book from Book People if you’re going to be there! 🙂 I’m so pumped to read it! Congratulations! September is too far away. I want it NOW! 🙂

Should that of made me cry? Because it did….. I love the cover…. we had a raccoon like that when I was a kid…and a baby chick..that was kind of a deal breaker with people.
Anyhow I am SO excited for the book! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

congratulations! i have to admit, i was looking for a ‘thumbs up’ button. i do that all the time, that’s how conditioned i’ve become. also, i want to rewind the radio when i miss something. i’m old school, i still listen to the radio. but i digress… HERE’S TO MANY MORE STORIES AND BOOKS AND 25’S and so on!!!

Dear Jenny, I have been through more than anyone should ever have to deal with in the last several years. Your humor has kept me going and things in perspective as it does for so many of us. Now I can finally finish the last few chapters of your book. I wouldn’t let myself, because I didn’t want to think there was no more there waiting for me when things get really bad.
Now I can, because the next one is coming.
You are a credit to our species.
Thank you!!

Congratulations Jenny! I’m so very happy for you. I love the cover, it’s perfect. I can’t wait to read the book. I don’t suffer from mental illness but I know people who do. From what I’ve read on your blog, you are a true inspiration and I thank you for your honesty. I’m not a big hugger, but I feel the need to hug you! Could you please hang out at the San Antonio River Walk the first week of May? I’ll be looking for you but you’ll be harder to spot if you’re no longer carrying that giant manuscript. Thank you again for being you.

Like others here in this odd little family, I am so happy and excited to hear this. I can’t wait to read this book! The cover is made of awesome, so that means th inside is too. (And to Victor, I would have read “SPARKLY MALE VAMPIRES WHO ARE PRETTIER THAN YOU versus ZOMBIE FAINTING GOATS, IN THE BATTLE FOR BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH’S HEART”! And when they sold the film rights I’d have so watched that movie!)
I am in the beginnings of getting assistance for anxiety, depression and Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. This blog and Jenny’s books help. I am surprised, I laugh so much, and yes..there are tears. But it all helps. Thank you all for the crazy..we need the silly and th crazy. Let’s keep that going. (Non-creepy hugs)

omgosh! I am SOOOO excited for you. Whenever ANYONE asks me for a book rec to make them laugh I tell them yours. Seriously. I’m in the middle of sharing some of my book lists right this very second and the top 10 powerful books is the one I want to share and you’re on it. So I’m so thrilled for you and want to virtually hug you and yay!! Congrats!!

Incredibly, furiously happy for you!! Congratulations =)
Your post could not be better timed – #25 lives at my house and is in the depths…sending him a link AGAIN…maybe this time he will read it and not feel so alone.
Keep doing that thing you do so well Jenny, you make a difference in this world.
Hugs

This post made me cry grateful tears for the countless lives that have been saved.Then I )was super psyched about your book, and I did a happy dance in my head (because my legs are tired from working out, and it would hurt to do an actual happy dance right now. Congratulations, Jenny! I’m so happy for you!

Thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this book. Also, when I had a completely debilitating, squeezing into the corner-type panic attack a couple of weeks ago, reading the “And Then I Got Stabbed in the Face By a Serial Killer” chapter from ‘Let’s Pretend’ saved me. Thanks for all you’ve done, all you do, and bringing this community of broken, anxious, awesome people together.

Jenny, your posting today brought tears to my eyes. You know it’s well written when it does that and also when it brings a smile out. Love your cover for the new book! I’m off to pre-order it right now. You are such a beautiful, funny woman and this second book will be as good or better than your first one. CONGRATULATIONS!!

I am learning that so much of my unhappiness comes from so many habits and ways of thinking and etc… that i use to keep being me. I am learning to me be. I try so hard to be accepted and loved and liked and not too needy, too weak, too picky, too weird, too negative, too excited, too intense, too logical, too sleepy, too afraid, too silly, too sarcastic, too much. But even with all this effort that drains me dry, I am too often rejected, unliked, dismissed, passed over, set aside and misunderstood. So, i try harder. And only last night, finally started wondering what would happen if i stopped trying. If I dared to walk through this world as myself.

Thank you. You are a part of this, Cheryl Stayed is a part of this, Elizabeth Gilbert is a part of this. The Lost Girls are part of this. All you brave writers who put yourself out there have been slowly opening my eyes.

You found your tribe by being yourself and I am starting to want to try to do that too.

I’m so excited for this book, Jenny! And I’m so happy for you and thankful for you. You (and all my fellow readers and commenters) have meant so much to me. I’m so glad you persevered and that the book is done. Congrats!!

I can honestly say you have made me laugh more in my live and made me feel better about being me. I am so proud of you finishing this book! Congrats! Now, go watch some Doctor Who or Firefly as a treat.

Double also, I cannot WAIT for another book tour so I can redeem myself from the last time I was a ranting lunatic with a Sharpie (not that I did anything notable with a Sharpie or anything. I was mostly just excited and nervous and weird. You understand).

I get the fear of coming out about the details of your mental health issues – I have a diagnosis that a lot of people don’t believe is even a real thing, and so I am very, very careful about who I tell. My hat is off to you, to your courage! (And also a not-very-sub-rosa YAYYYYYYYAAAYYYYAAA NEW JENNY BOOK!)

I love you so, so much. You weren’t around then, but I was my own 25, and I like to think I’ve been that to others (at least when I was a teacher). I still insist we should arrange a marriage for our respective offspring, but other than that I’m quite liberal. I’m getting choked up now…gonna go pet a cat and work on a painting. Much love.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!!! Preordered immediately. Because if we can’t laugh at this shit our brains deliver, then what else are we supposed to do? Thanks, Jenny – you ROCK. And so does Rory, btw.

This is WONDERFUL!!! Never, ever stop just being whatever you are. We LOVE you that way. Every. Last. Piece. You make this a better place to be. Happier. You have made me smile more times than I can even count. Happiness is always a great weapon. Okay, so it’s not stabby, but it is less likely to get you arrested.

JENNY!!!! Sorry, but the fact of the book, the book’s cover, the fact that you’re so brave, and the fact that I know so many broken people who now have something they can hang onto make me Furiously Happy!

I’m so glad you’ve finished it! Congratulations! I’m really looking forward to reading it! It takes courage and tenacity to finish something you start, especially writing a book. I know this because I’ve never finished anything important I’ve started (books, blog, life). And it sucks. I really wish I had even one tenth of your fortitude. Alas, I usually talk myself out of moving forward – I’m not good enough, I’m too ugly, fat, stupid, people will make fun of me, hate me, ridicule me, etc ad nauseam. Depression lies and so do I, especially to myself. And I always listen to what the voices have to say. Luckily, the good shit – like your humour and insightfulness – also breaks through sometimes. Thank you and all the best.

Actually, I’m kind of scared to read it if it’s funnier than the last one. When I read that one for the second time, I had bronchitis (maybe pneumonia, who knows?), and I had to stop until I was well because your book seriously tried to kill me. 😉

Can’t wait to read this new book! And, for the record, I totally would read “Sparkly Male Vampires Who are Prettier Than You VS. Zombie Fainting Goats, in the Battle for Benedict Cumberbatch’s Heart.” In case you were still wanting to explore the idea.

I’m so proud of you, and am looking forward to reading your book and adding it to… whichever box my copy of your first book ended up (most of my stuff is in boxes, waiting for me to move again).

I was recently diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and holy shit was it an adventure to start taking and getting used to the anti-depressants. I was moved onto a stronger dose and spent the first day of that feeling like I was off-my-face high.
I think it’s mostly settled now, and I feel like I can almost actually do something the morning after this crazy fitness thing, so that’s a nice change from being so tired all the time 🙂

I just ordered this, paid extra for the gift wrapping options and sent my future self this message “Always remember you are more than good enough, you are incredibly and flawed and beautiful and amazing. Always continue to challenge yourself and allow yourself to be who you are. And when you can’t, just be furiously happy!”

Pre-ordered my book and if you knew me you would know that is not something that I typically do. You are an awesome person and can’t wait to read your book. Your first book I read portions to my husband and he asked if I had secretly wrote a book. You are not alone.. i am a 25.

Personally, I feel trying to wrap humor around how I really feel on a daily basis is far more difficult than just succumbing to the darkness. I’m not always successful. It is admirable to see how good you’ve become at doing it! Humor is a good mask, albeit a cruel hoax on a genuine frame of mind, but when the marmots attack (or refuse to as the case may be) it’s the best crutch to lean on. Take it from me, #2500.
Congrats on your book! You are a brave soul indeed!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! And congratulations, and thank you so much for being you!
(All the things I wanted to say about this have been said by everyone else, so all I can say is that I agree with everyone else. Which is quite rare in my life)

Thank you. You have given me such a gift today, and for last couple of years since I have found your blog. My husband and I moved to a new city a couple months ago, and I still can’t find a job, and I’m alone in the house a lot during the day, and some days just feel especially shitty. Like today. And to ward off the loneliness, I read your blog (and take my dog on absurdly long neighborhood explorations). And I can’t fucking wait for this book. And I can’t tell you enough how inspiring, and pant-splitting funny, and necessary you are.

Congratulations to you! You inspire me with your honesty and your bravery..and your weirdness. Maybe someday I’ll get off my patootie and write a book too! Very much looking forward to reading your latest creation.

This news just kicked my Seasonal Affective Disorder right in it’s miserable crotch. I have in the last fews days begun to notice that the birds are beginning to sing and not shiver, that the grass is starting to grow green again, this makes me happy. Now I will have a defensive talisman to pull out when this shit storm starts again in the next Cleveland winter. Thank you Jenny

Last night I had one of the worst panic attacks I’ve had. I thought I was dying. I couldn’t breath. It scared both me and my husband pretty bad. But I calmed down finally (after some meds and super tight squeezes from the hubs.) I have been in a funk for days. I have been in and out of that funk for years. And through it all, here is my tribe. Where I don’t feel ridiculous sharing these things, and I don’t feel like I’m completely alone in this world.

I am so DAMN excited to get this book… It has been ordered… I don’t know that I can wait til September though. And will you pretty pretty please visit the south at some point on your next book tour? I’ll make you another cape! I’m better at sewing now.

Thank you for everything. For helping me find my tribe. We are here because of you.

Yay! So impressed that you can keep up with the book and the blog and life too, because sometimes just doing life is sooooo hard! You really are inspiring as well as hilarious. I’m a mentally ill person, raising a mentally ill person, and I know how hard it is to talk about, and about hiding the disease, as well as hiding in my house (or chicken coop, chickens are not judgemental at all). I’m trying very hard to say honestly: I have bi-polar disorder without apology or explanation, to just own it. It’s getting easier, but it’s still scary. People have these ideas that I’m like what they see on TV or in the media and mostly I’m way boring, so I hate to let them down by not being scary and twisty or extra horny. Seriously, it’s hard to let down my guard, but you’ve made it easier for me and I thank you for that. You being so open makes it easier for me to be more open and hopefully I can make it easier for someone else until it really is just like any other illness, no stigma, just support.
Your glitter raccoon is FABULOUS!

Jenny, the amount of comments on this article should tell you that none of your readers will ever run away. I think if you manage to laugh at yourself the fun will never stop. Oh, before I forget: congratulations to your new book.

Jenny, my darlin’, you are a gift to so many people. You let us be brave. (Side note: when you posted that Sara Bareilles video, I’d been having a craptastic week and that helped enormously. You are a gift, you have a gift for knowing when your readers need encouragement.) Looking so forward to the new book.

I’m going out for coffee tonight with my friend who is moving to Chicago so I have been crying on and off all day.

Then I saw this announcement and even though I am sad that my friend is leaving, I feel like I have something to look forward to… and yes, I’ve already pre-ordered it. So very, very excited. (And yes, I ordered a copy for the friend who is moving, as well).

I am SO happy your book is coming out soon! (Especially since my copy of your first book has been kidnapped…I know I should just buy it again, but I think it’s a first edition, so I don’t want to just give it to the other person. I KNOW that shit’s going to be worth something someday!)

I (almost) never comment, just because I know someone else will say the exact thing except it’ll be better worded and funnier…but seeing how much difference it makes just to have the chorus of everyone saying “Me too”…I will try to comment more often. (And I apologize in advance, because whatever I write will probably be the wrong thing to say.)

Thanks for writing for us…it’s strange to feel like you could be best friends with someone you’ve never met. (Speaking of which please have more Canadian tour dates this time!)

No, you’re sitting at work in a public library with something in your eye! (Err. That’s actually me doing that, right now.) Can’t wait to read this one! And thanks for being yourself in public, Jenny. We don’t feel quite so alone with our own brands of weirdness because of you. 🙂

It’s somehow perfect that you announce this today. I’m 23 and my mom just had a baby early this morning and I’m kind of having an existential crisis. Like, it’s a baby! And I’m so happy! But what the fuck am I doing with my life? I’m 23, I have a new baby sister, and what have I got to show for my life?

The cover is completely perfect. I think I’m gonna try to order it this weekend if funds are in the green.

Just so you know, having anything (shirt, mug, whatever) around with Rory on it (in addition to the book which I’ve promptly pre-ordered) would make me furiously happy. Even on the not good, very bad days. Also, if you’re taking a poll, I would really like to hear your thoughts on zombie fainting goats. And Benedict Cumberbatch. Or on Benedict Cumberbatch riding a zombie fainting goat (explanation of the physics involved optional).

Boy did you nail it. For you third book you should go all James Patterson and just have other people write for you so you can sit back count your money and make guest appearances on Castle.

Ahem. I’d also like to recommend a book for anyone who suffers from a mental illness, knows someone who does, or just wants a very interesting read. “Eden Express” by Mark Vonnegut, Kurt’s son, explores his bout with schizophrenia and his recover from it. Really interesting read.
Keep up the good work, I’m really looking forward to the new book.

First, it took me 3 hours to read this post, because after your first paragraph, I got lost in internet-space googling videos of baby hedgehogs in bath tubs. Thank you for that, I needed it!

Second, super huge congratulations on your second book! I can’t wait to read it and promise I’ll stick around long after it’s released. Very proud of you for being brave enough to share your intimate self with the world. You are amazing.

Laughing AND crying as I sit here in the airport reading this, but it kept me from killing the loud cell phone talker sitting next to me, so 1 MORE LIFE SAVED! (No, that would be TWO, since it means I get to avoid death row, right.)

Pre-ordered as a carrot for me to get there. Probably older than most here which should count as a good thing. Gave a copy of your first book to my psychiatrist. Don’t think he understood but he was near retirement anyway. Wish there was a way to find and meet tribe members IRL. Online helps but can’t communicate if and when words won’t come out. They freeze in my throat and become huge blocks of ice on the keyboard. At the worst and darkest time. Endurance with little support can be done but is so fucking hard. I keep reminding myself Depression Lies. Thank you for that. And your humor. Wish to the universe I could learn to see things that way.

i take you with me every time i get admitted to the hospital. it’s funny because i end up sobbing my way through hysterical laughter and the nurses all look at me like i’m crazy. well, duh. would i be on an inpatient ward if i wasn’t? you’ve made such a difference in my life and you don’t even know it. you’ve saved my life and you don’t even know it.
p.s. best book cover EVER!!

Congrats on finishing the book, and for being willing to share it with the rest of us. Add me to the list of people who look forward to being able to read it when it becomes available.

About two years ago I sent you an email involving the red dress project, and life stress (unrelated to head issues, but the head issues are always at least lurking in the corners). You took the time, during a weekend you were locked away at a hotel writing, to send back a couple of sentences (it’s totally cool that I count you as one of the two famous people that I’ve ‘met’ based solely on a couple of sentences in an email, right?). That meant something to me, even though I know you probably do that sort of thing all the time, so thank you for that. And thank you for giving people a place to go where they know others will understand.

The first paragraph of your post always pulls me in. The rest makes me tear up – good or bad. And by the end, I’ve forgotten what the hell I was planning on saying midway through. Every time! I managed to get your first book in bfe-way-up-your-ass Quebec, and then got PISSED when the cover changed – because they didn’t sell the new cover in my bookstore. So PLEASE do not change the cover this time. Because while I am back in the states now, I can’t afford multiple copies now that have different or shinier covers.

Can. Not. Wait. My depression is finally subsiding after making a grand entrance (AGAIN) after the holidays. However, anxiety has reared its ugly head with a vengeance this week. Thank you for the reassurance that I’m not the only one fighting this fight.

Thanks for this. I’m looking forward to reading it as a person who likes to laugh, but I also look forward to hopefully finding something I can share with my best friend, who Has Issues. She’s not much of a reader (because one of those issues involves focus) but I feel like she’ll be able to connect and hopefully the book will help her in times when I can’t. You’re brave and maybe a bit crazy and you are loved for both.

I’m going through a particularly bad week right now and this is the best news ever. You and the tribe are the reason I know that depression lies, and this will end, and I’ll come out the other end again. Ready to laugh again. Thank you to all of you on here reminding me that it will be ok again, and thank you Jenny for giving us this awesome place to hang out and remember that it’s ok to be broken sometimes.

I love your writing. I would buy your book even if it was written with a red lipstick on toilet paper…Thanks for putting yourself out there. You are one talented, gutsy, incredibly gifted lady and I appreciate that you are able and willing to share yourself with us, your strange and unusual fans.

This sounds amazing. I like reading books that give me hope. Or indeed furious happiness.

I was telling my mum about this and she was sort of half listening and not really knowing what I was talking about and then I said crazy looking taxidermied raccoon and she said “ohhh, you’re talking about the blogess!”

What a perfect pick me up during this horrible, no good, very bad week. I, too, am part if the tribe – I have bipolar disorder. You are an inspiration to all of us who struggle to get out of bed some days yet do phenomenally beautiful and incredible things other days. Please, please, please come back to DC on your tour.

Thank you. Thank you for making us laugh. And for bringing to light what for so long has only been whispered about. Thank you for creating a safe place for people to come. Thank you for sharing your awesome brainthoughts with us.
I have rarely been so excited for a new book! Sloth hugs to you!

I’m so excited for this book! I first started reading you after I learned you live with depression and mental illness. You taught me that I can still be a WHOLE person who still LIVES even with depression and anxiety, and for that I am truly in your debt. I loved loved loved your first book. It made me laugh out loud to the point my husband made me stop reading it in bed. I (selfishly) hope you talk more about your relationship with Hailey in this book because I have a baby daughter of my own now and your stories of Hailey and how she gets you are some of my favorite. (If you don’t talk about it it’s ok, I’m pretty sure I’m going to love the book anyway.) Your courage to be so public with your struggles is the only reason I’m brave enough to be one of the many to say “me too.” Thank you. Thank you from me, and from my daughter.

Well dammit. You just made me tear up. That probably wasn’t supposed to happen, was it. Also, a friend just told me a story about how her dad used to take her and a younger sister out of elementary school to go trapping. They were in charge of clubbing the animals. I thought of you as I was about peeing myself laughing. Thanks. Here’s to family disfunctional. Making comedians out of normal folk everywhere.

Yippee! Cannot wait to read it! You shine a light into the darkness for so many of us! Thank you. Sincerely, thank you….to know that we’re not alone, that we are not wrong to feel this way, we don’t have to add guilt that we don’t have a “real illness”. Thank you..

This is seriously better than Nutella, fuzzy socks and cheese! Thank you, Jenny. You have helped so many of us who struggle with mental illness to become less afraid of ourselves. I can’t wait for the release of book #2 and hope your book tour will bring you back to Boston.

So. Very. Happy! My copy is ordered, and I intend to start doing absolutely nothing immediately, so my schedule will be clear when it’s delivered. When Ii mentioned this to TBGH (The Big Gray Head – the spouse) he said “How will I be able to tell?” Also, I don’t know a blasted thing about swan attacks, but still have nightmares about the time I was cornered by a flock of geese….

Your book was the first book I ever read to my son. I was worried about him having a mom who wasn’t just like all the other mom’s. It was exactly what I needed to have the confidence to say my way may be different but it’s just as good as everyone else’s. Thank you for being the voice of so many people and thank you for the special memories of laughing with my baby at 3 in the morning at things that used to keep me trapped in my own mind. (Ps I’ll have a new little guy to share this next book with and I can’t wait!!)

Yay YOU, Madam Bloggess! I have never seen so many comments. I’m 500. Felicitations on completing your book. You’re a bloody legend! As we say in New Zealand. ps. the other day a very alive ferret walked up three steps, across a wide veranda, into our living room (best room), over the carpet, sniffed the sleeping sixteen year old dog’s bum, turned around and walked out again. True story. Happy days xx

Oh hell yes :-). I’m so proud of you and the awesome community you’ve created Jenny. I’m also proud that your trip to Australia made it into the book – I hope we made a good impression on you! Looking forward to reading your next book when I make the trip of a lifetime to the UK in September.

Well Jenny I am so happy for you . You had said earlier that you read the comments . I am a long time follower and so glad that your words save lives and uplift spirits . I successfully preordered the book with Project Night Night as the donee but received mail from Amazon that future orders need to go through smile.amazon.com to continue the gifts are sent there . Is that true ?

Fair warning: I do not always articulate thoughts well, so awkwardness may ensue. I was also a “25”. Thank you and this tribe for helping me realize that sometimes it’s just one day at a time, but that it always gets better. I am doing better now (especially since I quit my job of 10+ years that was exacerbating things-unemployment be damned), but it’s always one foot in front of the other. I have preordered your book, and, according to Amazon, it is being released on my birthday. My 50th birthday. Best part? I’ll probably forget I ordered it, and when it shows up, Happy Birthday to me! Thank you for being you 🙂

Wahoo! I can’t wait! I got your first book in audiobook (loved that you narrated it yourself) and couldn’t recommend it to enough people (I don’t know many people, so strangers found themselves in odd conversations about a book with a dead mouse on it). I look forward to introducing other strangers to Rory=)

Ahhh, preordered on Amazon Smile. Two stones, one bird. Wait. I’m uncertain about that. Oh, well, with a 9/22 release date, it will be a surprise birthday (9/26) present for me. Let’s face it, at my age, anything pre-arranged is a surprise.

I can’t wait! Until today I didn’t realize how much I wanted another book from you. Thanks for all you do for everyone. I’m happy to be a part of this crazy, fun, loving, generous tribe. BTW, you introduced me to Amanda Palmer’s music and I love it. Between the two of you I’ve come through an extremely stressful time in my life. All I can say is thank you!

I cannot wait for this book to be here…literally in my hands.
Also I just wanted to add to the other thank yous that you’ve gotten for just being you and honest. I follow you because I think you’re hilarious but I adore you because you make me feel less like a jerk for being depressed. I am blessed,I get to do what I want to do in life,I have a great family but I still struggle with depression-I’ve always struggled with it. And you make me feel less guilty about that. Because depression is an asshole.

Stumbled upon and read Jenny’s ridiculously funny first book “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened “. Found “The Bloggess” Twitter and Facebook accounts and have been amazed and blessed by the truly honest, forthright and genuine person this author is in her irreverent, tell-it-like-it-is humor. You will laugh aloud with her first book and I can’t wait to order and download the second. #totallyecommend

I can’t wait to read your new book. Your last one had me laughing loudly whilst trying to not bust my stitches from surgery! To be honest it freaked my mother out…..
I still rave about how wonderfully you write to anyone who will listen!
ps: Rory looks pretty darn good for roadkill!

I get it. Me too. I’m your no. 25 too. So many things to say about this! I don’t know if you’ll read your 509th comment, but in case you do: thank you for writing the truth. There is nothing better and more valuable. Thank you for being brave. And for finding the humour in the crazy. Just because we’re depressed and anxious and have OCD and whatever else, doesn’t mean we still aren’t us, who can be funny now and then, who can entertain and also be talented and intelligent and successful. It doesn’t mean that because we can also be those things that we’re not truly depressed and anxious and OCD, either. By writing what you have, you are going to shed light on what it means to “be a little crazy” and what it means to also still be lovable.

No one will leave. The worst that can happen is someone doesn’t get it. The best that can happen is that someone really does. It’s worth it.

You posted this on April 1 – so you’re either being really meta or this is the cruelest joke of the day. I’m going to order it so that even if you haven’t finished, maybe this will guilt trip you into finishing…or finance the purchase of enough cocaine for you to push through any writers block you might be experiencing. (Kickstarter project? Jenny Lawson…a book written on Cocaine…and you could put in a chapter about cocaine…so the title would have a double meaning.)

P.S. (If there are any feds reading this. Of COURSE drugs are bad. Just say no. Except if you’re Jenny Lawson.)

Hey Jenny! I just realized that Lawson rhymes with AWEsome… (kind of.) Anyway. You are.

I know I’ll love the book (funnier than the last one?) and I know I’ll stay. I’m not one of the 24′ and I’m not one of the 25; I’m some other thing because I never got to the actively planning stage and part of it has to do with YOU, Jenny. Yes, the community is great, but like me they are here for you. We wouldn’t exist without you.

Allow me to add myself to the ever-growing pile of well-wishes and love – it sounds so trite when it’s been said a hundred times before but I do love your writing, and I think you’re wonderful, and I’m just genuinely deeply appreciative that you exist in the same world as me.

I have rarely posted here. I dealt with some mental illness as a teenager while my mother was going through the XL version of the same. I thought I was over it. I’m just here for the funny and the feels. I thought it was A Thing I Had Experienced. I’m thirty now, come on.

Last month I went through weeks of not wanting to get out of bed. Of doing the right thing, making the smart choices about taking a walk or doing the dishes or playing video games all day because that’s what I wanted so that must be right. It didn’t work, none of it.

What I did remember was that depression lies. And while I’m blessed with a fucking excellent spouse I had this blog and this enormous community that I’m not even a part of echoing that this without logic and not my fault.

Thank you for starting it but thank you this entire community for continuing to speak.

I don’t have depression, but I have major social anxiety from a rather turbulent childhood. I’m 27, and went on my first date in November. My anxiety was so bad that I lost 15 pounds in one week from being a mess. I went on three total until it was simply too much, but considering I never thought I’d be able to go on one, I was pretty happy. One day, I hope I can write about that event (and others like it), which were truly awful at the time, in a way a third as funny and poignant as you. Now please excuse me while I go find out how/where to pre-order this. Much love from Montreal!

I am seriously SO THRILLED for you, Jenny!! I scurried away to pre-order as soon as I saw your post.

I think the Church of Bloggessarianism should declare an additional holiday WEEK in September to celebrate the book’s release! And then, possibly a 2nd week for all the members to read the new addition to the Canon of Bloggessarian literature.

This is better than Nutella, fuzzy socks and a block of gouda! Thank you, Jenny for bringing darkness to light and helping so many of us to become less afraid of ourselves. Congratulations! I cannot wait for the release and I hope the book tour brings you back to Boston.

Jenny, I have never commented on your blog before, but read it religiously. I lost my sister under mysterious circumstances due to bipolar disorder. Other family members likely suffered from depression or other untreated mental health issues but did not seek help due to stigma. I fortunately been spared, but work in a profession where I deal with people who suffer from a variety of mental health conditions.

I love your blog and have purchased both your books – I am looking forward to # 2. You are a talented author and blogger, but your greatest contribution to your readers is your ability to tell us how depression has impacted your life and to demonstrate to all that it is possible to have a rich, full, impactful life despite the unpredictability of the illness. Thanks for all that you do, and thanks to your family for their willingness to share you with us!

Thank you for your bravery in being honest about your struggles. It’s comforting to know that there is a whole community of people out there who struggle with the idea that if we really laid all of our issues out on the table, the people we care about would back away slowly, trying not to blink. I love you!!!! Also, your new book cover is officially one of my new favorite things in life!

Congratulations! As an author, I know that “finished!” is one of the best words in the English language. I’m so glad you don’t have to lug this around anymore. Although we all get to lug our crazy no matter what, with or without raccoons. It is nice to be in such good company while we do it.

Oh, and also, my birthday is in September, so my mom no longer has to try to figure out what to get me (I’m assuming she’s already worried about it since I am the light of her life). Which means that this was meant to be and you and I are soul mates. Deal with it.

Reblogged this on The Perks of Being an Artist and commented:
Would it be inappropriate to crap my pants from excitement? Because ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod her book will ship in time for my birthday! Clearly, this is a sign from the universe that we’re soul mates, bitchez.

I read your first on a plane flight and had to set it down every now and then for fear people were staring at me..laughing out loud, crying, peeing my pants – you all know what I mean. Can’t wait for this one. I’ll have to plan a trip so I can truly enjoy the experience.

So thrilled your coming out w/book 2….I’ll just call it “Crazy With A Vengeance, This Time Its Personal” if you don’t mind? I wish it could be here next for my friends surgery, you see the last book was read to her 3 years ago during her horrible bed ridden pregnancy and I was tasked w/the challenge of “hey let’s see if I can make her laugh so hard she will pee herself”, challenge not only accepted but totally won. Thank you for that Miss Jenny!

I was so excited to read this post that I didn’t even stop to wipe the bug guts off the back of my phone (this is why we still need newspapers), before continuing. So no annoying buzzing in my ear, but weird texture on my phone. But who cares, because there’s a new Bloggess book coming out!!!! Off to preorder (after cleaning my phone).

“When I came out so many years ago about my depression and anxiety disorder I was afraid you’d all run away screaming.”

Yeah because the woman who would go hide in the bathroom stall and read the newspaper just to have some alone time at work to bring her anxiety down is going to run away from the woman who hid under her desk at work.

Finally going to DBT group and learning skills to handle my depression and anxiety helped. And drugs. Drugs help. The legal kind. Sheesh, what kind of woman do you think I am?

WAIT JENNY NOOOOOOOOOOOO. PLEASE NO. This book absolutely CANNOT be funnier than your last book simply because I laughed so hard at your last book I almost died. I may or may not dedicate my tombstone to you if this one kills me. 🙂 hahaha but seriously, I have done the ugly laugh in public from your book like a hundred times. This will be the quickest pre-order I’ve ever done. I admire you so much and am so happy to support.

I’m so excited for your new book! I’ve been having a really rough time lately and your writing has really helped me feel not alone and kept me laughing! So yeah…if you’re wondering who has been reading all of your archives the last month, that’s me!! Thanks for making a horrible time a little brighter for me! You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know.

Woohoo!! I’ve been waiting for this day & am so excited to have pre-ordered your book, I’m doing the Happy Dance! Of course by tomorrow I will have forgotten so when it’s delivered in the fall I’ll be like “Hell yeah! Happy birthday to me! But how did Jenny know? Is she psychic?”

I am SO excited for your new book! I’ve been a long time reader of your blog and I always thought it was kinda creepy that people sent you stuff. However, when I read your first book (which came out on my birthday) I immediately understood. Your open honesty and humor is such an amazing gift that it seems selfish not to return the favor. Thank you, Jenny, and everyone who has shared their story so that I don’t feel alone and so that I am not so quick to judge the cranky asshole in the grocery line… they may just need to know they are not alone as well.

I got your first book when it first came out and laughed and laughed, to the point that strangers wondered what was wrong with me. Some even asked! Now, I’m re-reading it in my book club and i can’t wait for our discussion! It still makes me laugh out loud and my daughter just rolls her eyes at me and says I’m being annoying. YAY Me! 😉
I can’t wait for your next book!!! Congrats, I’m very happy for you. Your blog, the comments, they’ve touched me and helped me in so many ways. I feel blessed to have found you, and your tribe … to be part of the tribe! So, thank you!
I hope you know that even though your a little fucked up ( 😉 ) you are a pretty amazing person. Maybe your next book tour will bring you closer to Boise … or at least Idaho!!

For the eleventieth time, I want to say, “I love you, Jenny!” This is the first time I’ve written it though, the other ten times were silent hurrahs while reading your book or blog. I would have shouted it out loud but my family would have thought me egotistical. With the second book coming out I’ll have to change my shout out to, “Damn that Jenny Lawson, she did it again!”

Ok crying now. Jenny, words aren’t enough to express how much you being open about your illness helps me. On those really bad days i think of you, i read your blog. I read the comments, and I feel less alone and I laugh! You are so frakking funny. Your first book literally made me laugh till I cried and had to leave the bedroom so I didn’t wake my girlfriend. I cannot wait to read this book.

Also, that cover is the greatest thing.

Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us. Thank you so much for helping me through all the dark days.

In 2013 I lost my amazing, kindhearted brother to depression. He was the sweetest guy you would ever meet, and would have done anything for anyone. I wish with my whole being that I had known the dark hole he was in and that I could have shone a brighter light for him.

I hope your book can help even one person like Mike, I hope this post can make a difference to one person. I hope it can show even just one single person that they are loved and that there are people out here who care about them.

I was 26. I have bipolar 2 disorder as well as an anxiety disorder. Before I was properly diagnosed and prescribed the correct medications I got myself to the ER on two separate occasions a few years apart, because I knew if I didn’t go there IMMEDIATELY that I would try to kill myself. This was well before I read your book or read your blog. Thanks to medication and a LOT of therapy I’m doing much better, but I still struggle with anxiety.

Thank you for having the courage to write both books, Jenny. Because of you, your blog, and your books, there are many of us out there who can relate to you and each other. You have helped me by reminding me that I’m not alone, and that I can celebrate my weirdness.

So let’s all wear tiaras and throw glitter and dance wildly and have all the gravy we want. And if we start feeling scared or freaked out about it, it’s OK. We can retreat into our holes and hide to recover whenever we need to. When we’re ready, we can join the dance again.

at one point, I would have whispered 25. Now I don’t. And in therapy, and addiction treatment…you wouldn’t believe the hilarity that abounds. I laughed harder than I cried. And laughed honestly. Your last book made me cry and laugh simultaneously. Keep writing, please! And keep designing book covers! 😀

I read your blog all the time but I don’t usually comment because I figure that SO many people comment and, really, who am I to comment and what could I possibly add? But I just saw your Facebook post thanking everyone for their support, and I was inspired to contribute to the praise. Because you deserve it. And you deserve to know it. You’re an inspiration; you’re a light in the darkness of so many lives. I applaud you.

I once responded to your call for help on twitter (I believe it was at least 1.5 yrs ago, maybe more). A fan of yours was cutting. I talked to her on twitter that night, we became facebook friends, and now I love her dearly, and maybe one day she and I can meet each other (we live 1000+ miles apart.) She and I both have our struggles with anxiety and physical illness, but I’m glad to have found her. All because you retweeted her cry for help and asked us to respond.

Congratulations! You did it! We knew you would. 🙂 By the way, I was attacked by a goose when I was about 4 years old. Most terrifying moment of my young life. Not a swan, but a big, scary bird with a sharp, strong beak!

Thank you so much for sticking with it and finishing the book. I know from personal experience how hard it can be to finish a big project like that, and particularly one which so much of yourself is invested in. My favorite line from this blog is “Only I can be her mother.” I have a kid; he’ll be two in a couple of weeks and he’s pretty much my entire world. That sentence has kept me going more times than I can count. You’ve done more good for all us freaks than you’ll ever be able to know. Can’t wait to read the book!

I seriously love you and the fact you say all these things out loud for all the world to
hear. I am, right now, in the middle of a week where i do not want to leave my house.
It truly is comforting to know im not alone in this feeling and others deal with it too. You
are so brave!

Congratulations on your book, Jenny. That cover is amazing!
I’m not pre-ordering because I’ll be moving before the book ships, but it’s saved on my Amazon wish list for when the time comes! I hope that you’ll go on tour and visit Portland again, if you do I’ll be there!

Cannot wait to read this. Love your writing and love you! As someone who works in the mental health field and has loved ones who deal with it daily, it is gratifying to find a positive voice for the cause.

I don’t care if you see,this or not. I just want the Universe to know how proud I am of you for sharing The Crazy, as only you can, and inspiring so many to keep trying.
I survived my own suicide attempt back in college, so technically, I’m not officially a 25. I’m more like a refurbished 2nd generation 24. Or something like that. So maybe your words – and those of the community you’ve created – didn’t talk me down from the ledge. But it’s because of you that I started sharing the bullshit. My monster is still too big for a pocket. But it’ll get there.
Thank you, Jenny.

You are the one of the main reasons I am so open and honest about my own depression, anxiety, and former suicidal thoughts. You use honor and honesty to share your own experiences with us, and that has really helped me to realize it’s not a death sentence. I can still enjoy life and be positive (when the head allows, obviously), and that’s it ok to struggle, but reach out and seek help too.

Thank you. I’ve embraced my issues, which has allows so lead me to embracing who I am. Also, you’ve “introduced” me in a 50 degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of way to Wil Wheaton. He helped me realize it’s cool to embrace the things I like, and that had made my struggles a little easier you too.

Just caught my breath from doing a happy dance at this news! I read your first book so many times! The pages were all dog eared! Then I let my best friend borrow it cause she was having a rough time and I couldn’t physically be there to make her laugh but I knew you could have her in stitches (not real stitches cause that would just be awful, and a lot of freaking paper cuts). I now have the iBook version ( though I’m sure my iPad is against me awaiting the robot revolution where it will rise up and tap furiously on my face) which is not the same as a real book but kept me laughing during my own hospital stint! I can not wait to get a copy of this! Thank you! And thank Rory (who is just straight up fabulous in glitter)!

You made me cry this morning. I’m so happy I found you. I don’t suffer from anxiety or depression, but reading your blog has give me so much more empathy for those who do. You are a treasure, and I’m so glad you’ve helped so many people. I love you.

I can’t wait to read your new book Jenny. My boyfriend has depression and anxiety and over the last two years your blog has helped me to understand some of the difficulties he faces, when he has not been able to articulate them to me himself. Thank you for sharing your struggles with us all; if it were not for brave people like you (and people like Victor who love you) sharing your experiences, I may have not understood as fully, what my boyfriend goes through and would not have given the chance it deserves to my awesome relationship with the wonderful, slightly broken, man who I am now head of heels in love with. Blessed are the cracked for it is they who let the light in xx

I am in Nepal, in a around the world tour – and just spoke about you. How does she do it? I wish I was her! I am in Nepal struggling with my anxiety. And that sucks. But since I found you I feel like in the army: I have brothers in arms. I was your 25. Congratulations!! Next stop: to buy your book!
Love you and you a re an awesome writer! Thank you!

I am ridiculously excited that you wrote a second book! I cannot wait to read it. And I want to tell you: thank you for existing. Whenever I feel like shit can’t get worse, I go to your blog and get distracted by your adventures. And thank you for talking so openly about your demons. Mine chase me often, but it’s a tad easier to deal with them knowing one is not running alone.

Five minutes ago, I was a teacher, desperately looking forward to summer, and now I’m past that shit, and desperately looking forward to when it ends, so I can get the book. 🙂 Amazing…and I TRULY cannot wait to get my greasy mitts on it.

Jenny – I’d love to order an extra copy or two for people who don’t have the extra funds to buy one. Can you work some Bloggess magic and make that possible??

(That is such a lovely thought! I’m not sure the best way to do it though. Are you on twitter? If so you could put your twitter handle on here and see if one or two people contact you. I don’t want to give out your email, you know. Hmmm. Lemme think on it. ~ Jenny)

Jenny, I am sure it has not escaped your attention that the book is currently (1 day after pre-ordering started) listed as the #15 best selling “Book” on the Amazon list, and #4 best selling memoir. I guess that isn’t a bad sales statistic for 6 months before its release.

hallelujah and thank you. for writing another book. for writing period. for sharing it with us, and the world. for being so you and so brave and just and holy shit, thank you for that cover! cant wait to read this!

i can not wait for the next book. i give you first book to everyone i know to read. i have a friend that went out to buy it because she had to read it again and i had already lent it to someone else.
cant wait to read the next one and force it on everyone as well!!

With every battle fought every stinking day….success is attainable and DESERVED. Such an amazingly powerful message to all those fighting those same battles and demons every day. Thank you, Jenny, for continuing to share your story with us.

Thanks, Jenny, for being so dang brave! You have taught me much about my own vulnerabilities and how to embrace them to my advantage. I survived a divorce this year and some difficult times so I’d say the I am a “25th” as well. I’m truly grateful. You deserve all the best!

I am so incredibly excited to read this. Anxiety can be crippling – and your blog (and bookS!) make each day a little bit easier. I am so so excited. It also comes out right around my son’s birthday. Think it could count as his birthday present? I mean, it WILL make his mama happy, which is sort of a gift to everyone, right?

Jenny, I sincerely don’t know what I would do some days without your blog. I have struggled with depression for years and years (Since I was 11), and you and everyone else made me feel like I’m not alone, and although I have times when I feel I am truly broken, you made me realize that I can always put the pieces back together. You make me smile and laugh when I am having low days. Your thoughtfulness and empathy makes me want to be a better person. I laughed so hard I cried when I read your last book, and can’t wait to read your next one. Thanks for helping us all realize that depression, while difficult, is not the end of the world, and that there are lots of people out there that won’t judge you or look down on you, but will rather try to lift you up when you are low. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating this forum and page for all of us. You are truly an inspiration to me, as I seek to find humor in my everyday struggles.

First of all, congrats. For the 630st (ish) time. I’m assuming. I don’t have the energy to read comments this early in the morning. But mostly “Oh god why?!?!? Why make me wait till September! It’s worse than waiting for my sweet new recliner (6 weeks and counting) worse than waiting for the beers I’ve made to be drinkable (2 weeks and 5 weeks left) Worse than waiting for almost all the things! But the worst part is… it will be over in one magical night of reading. Good thing I can trap in in my head. your words will be inside me…

I am so very happy for you! I cannot wait to listen to you read it (assuming you will be doing the reading of your book for the audio version). Though, I will be buying at least one copy of the book too. Last week, I had to fly home – flying triggers my anxiety in a way only those with anxiety can understand. While on the flight, I listened to your first book. I had already listened to it a few times, but as we are in some pretty good turbulence – turbulence that should have had me totally freaking out – I was laughing my ass off like a crazy person at one of my favorite parts of your book. I successfully got through that flight because of you – your humor, your honesty, and feeling like I was understood by someone who doesn’t even know me. Funny how not feeling alone can make you feel a bit braver. Thank you for sharing your furiously happy with us.

I started re-reading your first book again today and was laughing out loud. My other half asked what was so funny and I told him I was reading an autobiography and you’d just run inside a dead deer. His response…
” Ran… Inside a deer… It’s an autobiography???”

Whilst I am lucky enough to say that I don’t have any mental health issue, reading your blog has made me a much more understanding person who blurted out loudly in a restaurant to a group of friends, one of whom said that people with depression didn’t need medication and they should just to talk it out…

“What the fuck, you have to be fucking joking, that’s the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard”.

I can’t keep reading the comments because I am reading you on my lunchbreak at work and I don’t want to start blubbering. I will tell you this, though. Even though I don’t have mental illness myself, I love someone with mental illness. And I would bet almost everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is someone, or has someone. Your blog is something we (my loved one and I) share, often. Thank you Jenny.

I am so excited to read the new book! I have it pre-ordered, on my kindle, and for the longest time it hasn’t had a cover, I LOVE Rory…I cant wait to have the whole shibang (side note: auto-correct tried to make shibang in to shEbang and I said NOT TODAY auto-correct…then I doubted my spelling, then I decided I liked my way better)! Wootwoot!

Not sure if you’ve ever read Ms. Peregrines Home for peculiar children but it reminds me of the Bloggites and how we all fit without being “normal” I highly recommend them, and am waiting for the third to come out (as well as your #2)!

Furiously excited to read it! OMG seriously. Your first book made me laugh out loud, on a train full of people and I didn’t care. I still use the phrase “foxen” on a regular basis (I am not sure how I fit it into conversations but I do.

Crazy excited to read your new book Jenny!! Reading your book turned me into a reader and a person willing to share more about myself! Thanks so much for giving so much of yourself even when it is so difficult!
Dena

OMG…I LMAO….I have this quirky sense of humor when it comes to animals on tv or movies….Just ask my family….they periodically yell out “Mom! Come quick it’s that commercial with (fill in the blank with any well done version of animals speaking and/or acting human). The Geiko camel cracked me up. Guardians of the Galaxy…LOVE ROCKET. Some much so my husband bought a model kit of Rocket and is scraping, sanding, & painting it to look as real as Rocket in the movie. That being said YOUR BOOK COVER IS FANTABULOUS! Thanks for the laugh and keep up the good work.

Yea! Also title and cover – perfect match. Not sure that I’d really count as a 25 but I have to admit that your posts, and your tribe, have definitely helped through some ugly times. Congrats and thank you again for all that you do

Thank you for being a light for my college aged daughter. She reads your blog and has read your book and has been anxiously awaiting your next book. She sent me a text and she was despondent as your book becomes available while she is studying in London…Big leap for her..huge…I explained that books can be purchased in England as easily as Wisconsin. She identifies with you on many levels…thanks for providing laughter and clarity to a young lady that needs to be reminded she is not alone…

Is it just my Amazon view that says: people who viewed this book also viewed: wild tiger head backpack. Because I’d like to think that all your fans reading your book wearing said backpack and it being some sort of secret gang affiliation thing.

can’t wait to read it! hoping you are going to do a book tour again and hoping you will come to la cantera san Antonio where we saw you last. wouldn’t miss it for the world! I know you know this, but you are amazeballs.

Congratulations!!! I absolutely loved the first book, and I can’t wait for the second. Your books made me feel strong enough to explain to my family that I had social anxiety, and your books enabled me to laugh about it. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG……. I was so disappointed when I finished your first book to find out that it was the only one. I laughed so hard I cried reading the first book. I have prayed long and hard that you would write another. I am so excited to get my hands on the book that I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. I have told anyone who would listen to me about the first book and now I will be able to rave about this one. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,THANK YOU!

I thank my subconscious mind for leading me to find the blog for Allie Brosh’s “Hyperbole and a Half”‘; which, in turn led me to THE BLOGESS . I have been following (THE BLOGESS) for almost a year now. Jenny, you make me smile and laugh. I realize things have an upside—if you look for, and find them. Laughter is a special anecdote; and you are a deliverer! Thanks for the laughter and deep thoughts. You Rock Chickie!, Kim

Long time reader, first time commenter here. I usually don’t feel witty enough to comment, but I couldn’t let this go without thanking you. Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for starting and leading this tribe of wonderful misfits. Thank you for your laugh-out-loud humor and raw honesty. Thank you for your incredible kindness. Thank you for saving me, and so many others.

Congratulations on your new book. I can’t wait to read it- and hope to be brave enough this time to come see you on your next book tour.

Speaking for people here in San Angelo where you lived when you were in college (none of whom gave me permission to speak for them, but I don’t care), I congratulate you! You are definitely the greatest famous person with a San Angelo connection!

I already love this book, even if it’s nothing more than that image with that title. As someone who’s both a writer and someone who blogs about mental health issues (among other things) I’m awestruck that you can bring yourself to discuss your own history, because that is some seriously gutsy shit. I’m sure I and all your other readers will love the new book and I hope you love it too. It’s a great thing that you’re doing.

Congratulations! And yay! Can’t wait for the new book. Although, if it’s funnier than the last one, I’m in big trouble. Apparently, laughing out loud alone in a car disturbs the other drivers when stuck in traffic.

AAAHHHH! I can’t believe I have to wait five months for this book!! Having been going through depression since around the time you were born (alcoholism didn’t help,either), your humor has really been a help since i was pointed to you a few years ago. I love to read your writing and it always makes my day better. Even the shittiest ones. Thanks,Jenny for sharing your life. Even, well,especially,the less-than-perfect parts (y’know, the best parts). I’ll be at my local (non-chain) bookseller,cash-in-hand, on 9/22. If only to be sad on 9/23 that I’ve finished.

Yeah! I pre ordered your book. I am sure I will love it. I think there must be millions of us #25s out there. Thank you for your candor and your twisted sense of humor. I LOVE seeing the world through your creative eyes! You make me laugh and cry sometimes both at the same time. I always feel better after reading your posts. Thank you Jenny!

Preo-ordered, can’t wait!!! Thank you for being willing to share your struggles with all of us who struggle and those who don’t. And thank you for helping us all find a way to laugh away that lying fucker called depression! xo

An important blogpost.
On an important subject.
From an important person.
To important people.
Mental illness is something that affects us all – in some way, shape or form.
And there’s no shame in living with one, though much of the world believes that not to be true.
Thanks for shining a light, making us laugh, and teaching the world about courage.

I am one of the “25s”. But thanks to this community, and the friends I met at a book signing who are now family to me, I’m still here. I have both copies of your book and one is with me at all times. Recently (I’m talking in the past few weeks), depression almost won a few times. But as I held the blade or pills in one hand, and your book in another, I chose to fight, to go on for one more day. That’s the most I can do right now, and honestly just one minute at a time. So thank you, for your honesty, your candor, and most importantly, for my life. As I continue to struggle to come out of the darkness in my mind, and as I still have urges for the blades and pills, I know I have somewhere to go, even if it’s just to read the comments and know I’m not alone. I am eagerly awaiting the day I get my hands on your new book but until then, your first book and this blog continue to provide the quiet support I need.

I love ya, girl!! Thanks for helping me out of the dark with your blog. It’s impossible to tell you how hard it is to see the light sometimes, but getting that reminder from you and your Nuts-o Community that I’m not alone in the murk gives me that little bit of courage I need.

Feeling kinda suicidal tonight. Don’t wann to clog the telephone lines because I don’t think I’ll really do anything. I gave the flat and car keys to my hubby just in case I chance my mind. Won’t do anything at home because the kids could find me. Just remembered that this site/community is a place where people can post without being judged. Needed to share somewhere in order not to explode. Can’t phone my therapist before tuesday because of easter. Thank you for being here and letting me vent!

Did I say congrats? Because…congrats! My first book Moon Full of Moons was released a month ago and I’m enjoying riding the waves: emotions, excitement, energy…may we both make the world a happier place with the things we put into the world. In your case, furiously happy, and in my case, happy as a moon that has found its fullness.

I don’t know how to reply to @lcp above me, but please know it will get better. Everything cycles and life goes in waves. Just ride this wave and it will come around again. Please take care of yourself.

Ive been through a few things recently, its been a struggle and still is, but I knew I could always come here when I needed something silly to cheer me up. Im not a regular reader, I just head this way when I need you. Thank you for being here Jenny.

I read your first book (and then raided your blog) while hospitalized for an eating disorder. I’m 25 too 🙂

AND OH MY GOD, cannot wait for your new book. I’m a broke ass grad student who believes in libraries but your books I buy because (1) I am also a writer and good lord writers deserve dollars and (2) I actually love you. No creepers.

I have a friend I want to give a copy of your book to, but I’ve never met her in real life, don’t know her e-mail address, have no physical address more specific than “Scotland,” and I don’t know her name. We only communicate through an online game. I need magic.

My wife has force fed me every post and every story you have given us for the past few years. She has read your first book and loved it. All the times I read how you felt about yourself and your struggles made me want to reach out and grab you and try and find a way to show you what you look like from outside in. You being so open about the various social disorders that plague you and those of us like you, doesn’t just create inspiration, they let all of us that feel desperately and hopelessely alone know that we aren’t. You help us to realize (wether we want to or not sometimes) that we aren’t alone battling our demons. That may not seem like much to someone who hasn’t been there but, you know how far that can go. I’m a fellow Texan, and a former U.S. Marine. I’ve seen what can happen when someone loses themselves in the darkest parts of their soul and I can tell you that the light at the end of the tunnel can come from the unlikeliest places. Thank you for touching my family. 😂 We have ordered your second book and can’t wait to read it. Don’t ever lose hope, never give up, none of you are alone., we are here with you. Semper Fidelis.

I am so happy to hear your book is coming out. I loved the first one, but I think the message of this one will be so much more powerful. I might be one of the 25, but I really look forward to giving this to my niece, who is struggling mightily with depression right now.

Sometimes, when a person has anxiety/etc/etc/etc, it helps to randomly see a post by someone else with a couple of those etcs. So, to celebrate the last [as in most recent, not final!] 4 hours of my life, here’s my latest status blurb. Hope someone sees it and understands they’re not the only one dealing with this shit.

All the best, and keep doing whatever it is you do! The rest of us appreciate it.

S.

Anxiety is: feeling you can’t order room-service or delivery because you don’t have cash for a tip. Anxiety is: needing over two hours to decide exactly what to get for supper, decide it’s okay to eat in your hotel room, and work up the courage to actually go to the restaurant to order it. Anxiety is: hurrying back to your hotel room and feeling completely and utterly trapped when it turns out the restaurant is closed early due to the holiday. Anxiety is: not realizing the previous is raising your heart-rate, and trying to find other options by looking through menus and online but finding nothing appetizing. Anxiety is: thinking you’re so hungry that you’re not hungry any more except you’re starving, dealing with all of the above, and feeling like such a failure that you fall to the floor crying when you open the mini-fridge because you’re Obviously Not Okay and Something’s Wrong With You and These Actions Are Pathetic and You’re Obviously Not Healthy and Changing Your Situation Will Not Make You Healthy.

Recovery is: looking at yourself in the mirror a second time and realizing that you dealt with two new big things and one ongoing big thing today on only four hours’ sleep. Recovery is: listing what you ate today to prove to yourself that you HAVE consumed stuff with nutrition, and then telling yourself you don’t have to be hungry now just because it’s time to be hungry. Recovery is: not being ashamed of reaching for the last raw veggies in the mini-fridge, because what you really wanted from the restaurant for supper was salad, anyway. Recovery is: realizing you’re stretched really thin on so little sleep, plus overstimulated by the day, rather than completely incapable of making basic decisions in general. Recovery is: telling yourself, even if it’s hard to believe with this stressful feeling, that You Actually Are Okay, and You Are Doing Good. Recovery is: giving yourself credit for all the option-parsing, eliminating, deciding, adjusting, problem-solving, and courage-gathering you’ve gone through in the past two hours. Recovery is: allowing yourself to admit what sounds better than watching tv and eating a big supper (a book and a few light snacks). Recovery is: giving yourself a hug even when no-one else is there to do it for you.

Thank you! There was a time in my life when the fabric I made into a curtain was literally the only reason I could think of to go on living. This post gave me the courage to write to the fabric designer and tell them so.

Congrats Jenny! Also, congrats to Hailey and Victor too! The cover is perfect & I look forward to receiving both my hardcover copy and the audiobook (already ordered! 🙂 Thank you most kindly for sharing your life again. I so appreciate it.

I was having one of those weeks those of us with GAD, or not, have and decided I needed th right kind of help right away. So what did I do? I went to This blog and found that you had written exactly what I needed to know. Thank you Dr. Jenny, and your assocates, guess I’m one now :D, for your bravery sharing your stuff! I can actually go out in public and not completely freak IN (I’m introverted, so freaking OUT doesn’t quite explain the sensation). You so rock lady!

Lately I have been under a massive amount of stress. I lost my job and my house is literally falling apart. I feel horrible most of the time and had to start medication just to calm down enough to get through the day. But you know what? I am still trying. Trying to be happy, trying to find my little bits of happiness, trying to make good happen around me and you have been a part of that so thank you.

I know I’m obviously not the first person to say this but you are such an encouragement to me. You have me laugh and you have made me cry and you have also…inspired me to get help. 2015 is the year I will get help. So thank you. ❤

Also, I am furiously happy for you and your furiously fabulous book. I am obsessed with the cover. Congratulations! I’m so proud.

Congratulations! I think the funniest people are the ones that don’t want others to feel pain. You are wonderful and entertaining. I am so glad you have turned the difficult stuff into something that makes the rest of us happy. Bravo.

I have read this post many times. Each time it brings me joy and fills me with a feeling of immense pride in knowing you and this virtual community. So many times in my life all I have ever really needed was someone to listen and make me feel less like a freak. Thank you all for all that you have done for people, big and small. (The size of the actions, not the size of the people. Why would I discriminate the average sized?)

HOORAY! Can’t wait to read the new book, I’ve been looking forward to it as soon as I read the first, cry-laughed through it, and passed it on to my coworkers.

And don’t worry, I seriously doubt people will run screaming from your blog/books. We all have our demons, and sharing them with others (talking about them, I mean, not literally sharing) helps to lighten the load. =)

Jenny, as someone who deals w/daily chronic pain, resulting anxiety and depression, you inspire me, you reassure me that I can still work this writing gig…You help me feel not so alone. Just by being you.

I lost my mom to suicide when I was a teenager. The darkness of her mental illness consumed her to the point of no return. I look forward to reading your book and I commend you on your willingness to be vulnerable and share your experiences with the world. Thank you, Jenny Lawson. Also, the book cover is perfect.

Jenny, I can’t tell you how excited I am! I loved your first book. I work with mentally ill people in crisis (in the hospital) and I am planning to get a copy (or a couple!) for my little library here. I think your humor and relateablity would be wonderful for my patients!

We all love you, and we will love your book.
Thank you for sharing about the Folder of 24. I think it’s important to keep in mind the powerful effect that Words on the Internet can have, for good or ill.
Well done, Jenny. Your first book made me laugh and cry. I’m looking forward to more FEELS this time around. ❤

I have never laughed as hard or as much reading a book as I did when I read your first one. So, I can’t wait to get this one. We are ALL crazy in some way. Anybody who thinks they are not is seriously messed up.Thanks for being brave enough to share your particular crazy with us/

Did the raccoon rip apart the sparkly vampire and throw his glitter ashes in the air?!! Will the book have ferrets, mice, and raccoons fighting to the death in an arena for our entertainment? Can I think of more YA books/ movies to add here? Yup. I probably could!! As a 25 year depression and anxiety SURVIVOR, I applaud you!! I too try to find laughs in my craziness, and have had more than one person tell me I’m wrong for doing so. Thanks for proving to the world that the so called “crazy” minds are in fact the sanist and most creative!!!!!

Congrats!
My Monday is much brighter knowing that in two corners of the internet (AFP’s and yours) we help. Everywhere else there is too damn much hate and nastiness.
Of course we will still be here!
The cover is axing and I can’t wait to was the book.